title: Transanal Tube for the Prevention of Anastomotic Leakage After Rectal Cancer Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: Transanal tubes (TTs) have been used to prevent and reduce anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery. The aim of this review was to investigate the efficacy and safety of the TT.
  
  
  
  A systematic literature search was performed to identify randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials assessing the clinical efficacy and safety of TTs in rectal cancer surgery.
  
  
  
  Seven trials with 1609 participants were included. The TT group had a lower anastomotic leakage rate than the non-transanal tube group [RR 0.38; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 0.25-0.58; P < 0.0001], as well as a lower reoperation rate (RR 0.31; 95 % CI 0.19-0.53; P < 0.0001) and a shorter hospital stay (mean = -2.59 days; 95 % CI -3.69 to -1.49; P < 0.0001). There were no significant differences in mortality between the two groups.
  
  
  
  TT use in rectal cancer surgery is likely to be an effective and safe method of preventing and reducing anastomotic leakage and is associated with a decreased risk of reoperation and faster recovery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 16 Airport Road, Guangzhou, 510405, China. zhao_wen_tao@yeah.net.
authors.forename: Wen-Tao
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Ning-Ning
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hospital of Chengdu Office of People's Government of Tibetan Autonomous Region, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Chengdu Second People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Yan
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D057868:Anastomotic Leak / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation