title: Extralevatory abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) does not result in reduced rate of tumor perforation or rate of positive circumferential resection margin: a nationwide database study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the oncological results and possible benefits associated with extralevatory abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) when compared with conventional abdominoperineal excision (APE).
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ELAPE was introduced in 2007 with the purpose of reducing the rate of positive resection margins after resection of low rectal cancers. Preliminary studies have shown promising results. No large-scale or nationwide data have been presented.
  
  
  METHODS
  Database study based on data from the Danish Colorectal Cancer Group's prospective database. Data on all ELAPEs and APEs performed in Denmark in the period January 1, 2009, through August 2012 were retrieved and evaluated for differences in demography, tumor characteristics, and oncological results. Uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify risk factors for resection with a positive circumferential resection margin (CRM+).
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 554 patients were included, 301(54%) were operated by ELAPE; 253(46%) by APE. Sixty-three percent were men, median (interquartile range) age was 69 (61-76 years) years, and tumors removed had predominantly T-stages T2 and T3 (32% and 45%, respectively). Overall, CRM+ was found in 13% of patients. When divided according to type of procedure, we found no significant differences in demography and tumor T- and N-stages. Resections with a CRM+ were more common after ELAPE (16% vs 7%; P = 0.006). After uni- and multivariate logistic regression analyses, surgery by ELAPE remained a risk factor for a CRM+ [odds ratio, 2.59 (95% confidence interval, 1.31-5.12); P = 0.006).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this nationwide study, resection of low rectal cancers by ELAPE did not improve short-term oncological results, when compared with conventional APE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery D, Herlev Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Herlev Ringvej Herlev, Denmark.
authors.forename: Mads
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fischer
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Gögenur
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003718:Denmark; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010502:Perineum / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome