Efficacy and Safety of Transanal Tube Drainage for Prevention of Anastomotic Leakage Following Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancers ()
1. Introduction
Anastomotic leakage is one of the most severe complications related to colorectal cancer surgery. It contributes not only to postoperative morbidity and mortality, but also to local recurrence and poor prognosis [1] [2] [3]. Anastomotic leakage may prolong hospital stay and have deleterious effects on oncologic outcomes and postoperative quality of life [4]. Therefore, prevention of anastomotic leakage is crucial or safe rectal anastomosis. Intraluminal pressure in the anastomotic portion may be associated with anastomotic leakage. Transanal tube placement may reduce postoperative anastomotic leakage rate by reducing intraluminal pressure and preventing fecal extrusion through the staple line [5]. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether transanal tube placement can reduce anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic LAR.
2. Materials and Methods
2.1. Patients
Between April, 2009 and March, 2016, 143 patients underwent rectal cancer surgery with double stapling technique (DST) reconstruction in our institution. The inclusion criteria for this retrospective study were a primary tumor below the rectum, and curative resection accomplished by anterior resection with DST reconstruction. Rectal cancer was diagnosed histologically by biopsy under colonoscopy. Patients with stoma placement and patients undergoing additional surgical procedures concomitantly were excluded from the analysis. A diverting stoma was not created in all 143 patients. A transanal tube was placed after anastomosis using a double stapling technique, in 90 patients (group TT) between October, 2012 and March, 2016. In group TT, a 24 Fr. Silicon catheter (Phycon tube, Fuji Systems Corporation) was inserted into the anus (Figure 1(a) and Figure 1(b)). The top of the group TT was placed approximately 20 - 25 cm in the descending colon (Figure 2(d)). Another 53 patients were operated on without a transanal tube (group NTT), between April, 2009 and September. 2012. We began use of the transanal tube in October 2012, thus all of the cases in goup TT were rectal cancer surgeries perfomed between October, 2012 and March, 2016. Clinicopathological and operative variables, the frequencies of anastomotic leakage and re-operation after leakage were investigated.
2.2. Surgical Technique
Operations were performed laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery was performed using a five-port technique. We dissected and mobilized the sigmoid colon via the medial-to-lateral approach in Toldt’s space, then performed a radical proximal lymph node dissection, following the Japanese Society for Cancer of the Colon and Rectum (JSCCR) guidelines. The length of bowel transected was determined by the JSCCR guidelines, in which more than a 2-cm distal margin in middle and lower rectal cancer. For middle or lower rectal cancers, the rectum was dissected posteriorly to the level of the levator muscle and a total mesorectal excision (TME) was carried out.
Before transection, the bowel was clamped at the anal side of the tumor and washed out through the anus with 500 ml of the normal saline. The bowel was transected using Linear staplers (Figure 2(a)), and the proximal end of the bowel was delivered through a small incision. The bowel was then resected extracorporeally and an anvil was placed in the proximal colon. An anastomosis was performed with DST under laparoscopy (Figure 2(b)) and an abdominal drain (Clio-drain, Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.) was placed near the anastomosis (Figure 2(c)), in all patients.
2.3. Postoperative Course
Oral intake was resumed between postoperative days (PODs) 3 and 4 and most transanal tubes were removed on PODs 4 - 5.
2.4. Definition of Anastomotic Leakage
Aanastomotic leakage in this study was defined as either purulent discharge from the abdominal drain or a peri-anastomotic abscess detected by CT. In the case of turbid discharge with high fever, we comprehensively diagnosed anastomotic, based on CT findings.
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Figure 1. (a) 24 Fr. Silicon catheter was inserted into the anus. (b) Postoperative X-ray. The top of the group TT was placed approximately 20 - 25 cm in the descending colon.
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Figure 2. (a) The bowel was transected using Linear staplers. (b) An anastomosis was performed with DST under laparoscopy. (c) An abdominal drain was placed near the anastomosis. (d) The top of the group TT was placed approximately 20 - 25 cm in the descending colon.
2.5. Ethical Considerations
This study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and institutional guidelines. Written informed consent was obtained from all patients, between October, 2012 and March, 2016, who underwent rectal surgery and transanal tube placement. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee of the Fuchu Hospital 2012.
2.6. Statistical Analysis
Statistical analyses were performed using by the Statcel 4 software program (OMS, Saitama, Japan). The collected patient data were reviewed. X2 test and student’s t test for categorical variables were used for statistical comparison of characteristics and complications of patients in both groups. All p values were two-sided, and a p value < 0.05 was considered significant.
3. Results
Between April, 2009 and March, 2016, 143 patients underwent rectal cancer surgery with DST reconstruction in our institution. A transanal tube was placed after anastomosis using a DST, in 90 patients (group TT). Another 53 patients were operated on without a transanal tube (group NTT).
Patient age, gender, body mass index, tumor size, Dukes’ stage, the number of liniar stapler firings for rectal transaction, and the rate of left colic artery preservation were comparable between the two groups.
Intra-operative blood loss and operation time decreased group TT from group NTT (blood loss: p = 0.04, operation time: p = 0.06).
The frequency of leakage was 2.2% (2/90) in group TT and was 13.2% (7/53) in group NTT. The rate of leakage was significantly lower in group TT (p = 0.04).
Furthermore, the re-operation rate for symptomatic anastomotic leakage was 0% (0/2) in group TT, while in contrast it was 28.5% (2/7) in group NTT. The rate of re-operation was lower in group TT than group NTT (p = 0.06) and all cases with symptomatic leakage in group TT were cured by conservative treatment (Table 1). There was no side effect of transanal drainage tube placement (perforation or bleeding of the colon, or deviation of the tube).
4. Discussion
Anastomosis leakage is a common and potentially serious postoperative complication of colorectal cancer surgery. It is associated with increased mortality and morbidity and may require a prolonged postoperative hospital stay or a second surgical procedure, such as for a diverting stoma. Anastomosis leakage causes increased physical, emotional, and financial stress, and it may increase the risk of local recurrence and thereby negatively impact survival [6].
It has been reported that male gender, low tumor location, low anastomosis, preoperative chemoradiation, and advanced cancer stage increased the risk of anastomotic leakage following LAR for rectal cancer [7] [8] [9] [10]. LCA preservation is important to reduce anastomotic leakage [11]. Furthermore, endoluminal pressure in the anastomotic portion is resumed to be associated with anastomotic leakage [12]. With the development of surgical instruments and surgical techniques, sphincter-preserving procedures have become more prevalent [13]. However, the risk of anastomotic leakage is increasing, and placement of a transanal tube for its prevention is controversial [14] [15].
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Table 1. Clinical and surgical factors. Rate of anastonotic leakage and re-operation.
The meta-analysis was conducted to evaluate existing data to help clarify the role of transanal tube placement in the prevention of anastomotic leakage and reoperation. Results of both the meta-analysis of the three observational studies and the one randomized trials indicate that placement of a transanal tube significantly decreases the risk of leakage and reoperation [16]. While the mechanism of action of the transanal tube is unclear, it may be related to reduction in endoluminal pressure in the anastomotic portion of the intestine which may be an important factor in anastomotic leakage [17]. Although transanal tube may reduce the risk of anastomotic leakage and reoperation, its placement increases patients’ discomfort and inconvenience. There have also been reports of tubes perforating bowel especially in the region anterior to the sacrum [18]. However, compared with the reoperations required for anastomotic leakage in the absence of a transanal tube, complications associated with a transanal tube are relatively minor.
Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of TT placement for the prevention of anastomosis leakage after rectal cancer surgery with DST reconstruction. The frequency of leakage was 2.2% (2/90) in group TT and was 13.2% (7/53) in group NTT. The rate of leakage was significantly lower in group TT (p < 0.05).
Furthermore, the re-operation rate for symptomatic anastomotic leakage was 0% (0/2) in group TT, while in contrast it was 28.5% (2/7) in group NTT. The rate of re-operation was lower in group TT than group NTT (p < 0.05) and all cases with symptomatic leakage in group TT were cured by conservative treatment.
In conclusion, our study shows that TT placement may prevent anastomotic leakage after rectal cancer surgery with DST reconstruction. TT placement was effective for prevention of anastomotic leakage following laparoscopic LAR and avoiding re-operation after symptomatic leakage. We regard the transanal drainage tube to be safe and effective without side effect.