Short-term outcome of extra-levator abdominoperineal excision for rectal cancer

Background Extra-levator abdominoperineal excision (ELAPE) has been introduced to avoid oncologic problems encountered with conventional abdominoperineal excision (APE) such as high rates of inadvertent bowel perforation and of positive circumferential resection margin. We compare our short-term results of this new approach with a historic patient cohort. Patients and methods From 1997 until 2010, we performed 46 consecutive conventional APE and 28 ELAPE after neoadjuvant therapy with a macroscopically complete resection in the true pelvis. Patient data was prospectively collected in our colorectal tumor database. Patient and tumor characteristics were compared as were the rates of inadvertent bowel perforation, of circumferential margin involvement, and of wound abscesses. Results The rates of inadvertent bowel perforation, of circumferential margin involvement, and of wound abscesses were 15.2% vs. 0 ( p = 0.04), 4.9% vs. 0 ( p = 0.511), and 17.4% vs. 10.7% ( p = 0.518), respectively, in the conventional APE vs. ELAPE group. Conclusion With a significant reduction of the bowel perforation rate and a reduction of circumferential margin involvement and wound abscess formation, ELAPE improves important surrogate parameters for local recurrence rate and survival.