Short Term Postoperative and Oncological Outcomes of Two-Dimensional Versus Three-Dimensional Laparoscopic Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision of Rectal Cancer

Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) carried out synchronously with laparoscopy is a useful surgical technique in rectal cancer patients who are overweight or who have a narrow pelvis. This retrospective study aims to compare the safety and efficacy of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) laparoscopic TaTME of rectal cancer based on the short-term postoperative and oncological outcomes of 40 patients in Singapore who underwent laparoscopic TaTME. Forty patients underwent laparoscopic TaTME for rectal cancer in one of three centers in Singapore from October 2015 to August 2018. Out of these patients, 23 underwent 3D laparoscopic TaTME with the Olympus Flexible Tip™ 10 mm scope. Data on patient demographics, operative details, and postoperative and oncological outcomes were collected retrospectively by going through soft copy patient records, analyzed and compared. The operative time for 3D group was significantly shorter (340 versus 419 minutes, = .04). Complete TME grade and R0 resection was achieved in a higher percentage of patients in the 3D group although this was not statistically significant. There were no other significant differences between the two groups in terms of oncological outcomes and other short-term postoperative outcomes. TaTME is overall a safe technique. Three-dimensional TaTME for rectal cancers is as safe and feasible as 2D TaTME, with the advantage of a shorter operative time.