title: Laparoscopic sphincter-preserving total mesorectal excision: 10-year report.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Total mesorectal excision (TME) is currently the gold standard for resection of mid or low rectal cancer and is associated with a low local recurrence rate. However, few studies have reported the long-term oncological outcome following use of a laparoscopic approach. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term oncological outcome after laparoscopic sphincter-preserving TME with a median follow up of about 4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with mid or low rectal cancer who underwent laparoscopic sphincter-preserving TME with curative intent between March 1999 and March 2009 were prospectively recruited for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the 10-year study period, 177 patients underwent laparoscopic sphincter-preserving TME with curative intent for rectal cancer. Conversion was required in two (1%) patients. There was no operative mortality. At a median follow-up period of 49 months, local recurrence had occurred in nine (5.1%) patients. The overall metastatic recurrence rate after curative resection was 22%. The overall 5-year survival and 5-year disease-free survival in the present study were 74% and 71%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study show that laparoscopic sphincter-preserving TME is safe with long-term oncological outcomes comparable to those of open surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
authors.forename: H Y S
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: A L H
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: K K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yau
authors.forename: M K W
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome