Robotic Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction Surgery Versus Robotic Transabdominal Specimen Extraction Surgery for Early-Stage Rectal Cancer

Robotic Natural Orifice Specimen Extraction Surgery Versus Robotic Transabdominal Specimen Extraction Surgery for Rectal Cancer: a Multicentre Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

A retrospective cohort study, conducted nationwide（China） and across multiple centers, aimed to compare the surgical quality and short-term outcomes of R-NOSES （robotic natural orifice specimen extraction surgery）with R-TSES （robotic transabdominal specimen extraction surgery） for early-stage rectal cancer.

In this retrospective cohort study, data from 1086 patients who underwent R-NOSES or R-TSES for early-stage rectal cancer between October 2015 and November 2023 were collected from a prospectively maintained database of 8 experienced surgeons from 8 high-volume centers in china. The study was aimed to compare the surgical quality and short-term outcomes of R-NOSES with R-TSES for early-stage rectal cancer.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. histologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma
2. robotic TME for rectal adenocarcinoma
3. postoperative pathological staging of T1-2N0M0
4. complete surgical and postoperative follow-up information

Exclusion Criteria:

1. body mass index (BMI) ≥ 35 kg/m2
2. history of abdominal surgery
3. history of pelvic surgery
4. presence of another primary cancer
5. previous endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
6. anal or vaginal disease
7. ileostomy or transverse colostomy
8. conversion to open operation
9. tumor distant metastasis