title: [Experiences of scarless laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the feasibility and safety of scarless laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data of 26 patients who underwent scarless laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer from January 2011 to June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Lymph node dissection and transection of proximal and distal colon were performed in the conventional manner of total mesorectal excision (TME). The distal rectum 2 cm away from the tumor was closed with a linear stapler, and was pulled out through the anus. The specimen was extracted through the Alexis. The rectal opening was reclosed with a linear stapler. End-to-end colorectal anastomosis was performed using the double-stapling technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The operation time was (126±35) min. The intraoperative blood loss was (33±61) ml. The number of harvested lymph nodes was 17.0±5.6. The time to first bowel movement was (2.7±1.3) d. The postoperative hospital stay was (7.9±2.6) d. Only one case developed anastomotic hemorrhage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Scarless laparoscopic radical resection of rectal cancer is feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Huaihe Hospital, Henan University, Henan Kaifeng 475000, China. qincj888@163.com.
authors.forename: Changjiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Quanying
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kanda
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jiming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Xuequn
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies