Objective: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic cylindrical abdominoperineal resection.
Methods: Six patients with rectal adenocarcinoma within 3 cm above the anal verge underwent laparoscopic cylindrical abdominoperineal resection. Transabdominal levator transaction was performed laparoscopically, with no position change during the perineal operation. Pelvic reconstruction was achieved using human acellular dermal matrix mesh in 3 patients.
Results: All the procedures were successfully performed without any intraoperative complications, laparoscopy-associated complications, or conversion to the open approach. The mean operation time was 186.7 minutes and intraoperative blood loss was 101.7 ml. All the specimens had a cylindrical shape with levator muscles attached to the mesorectum and circumferential margins were all negative. No adverse incidence followed the pelvic reconstruction using human acellular dermal matrix mesh.
Conclusions: Laparoscopic transabdominal transection of the levator muscles without position change and pelvic floor reconstruction with human acellular dermal matrix mesh is feasible. This procedure simplifies cylindrical abdominoperineal resection which is aggressively invasive and technically complicated. The oncologic outcomes are acceptable and complications are less.