NYMC Faculty Publications

Does Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision of Rectal Cancer Improve Histopathology Metrics and/or Complication Rates? A Meta-Analysis

Journal Title

Surgical Oncology

First Page

47

Last Page

51

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

September 2019

Department

Surgery

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine whether transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) improves histopathology metrics and/or complication rates when compared to robotic total mesorectal excision (R-TME) of resectable rectal cancer. METHODS: MEDLINE, Pubmed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were systematically searched by two independent researchers. Six observational studies totaling 1,572 patients (811 taTME; 761R-TME) were included after screening 14 potentially eligible records. Mantel-Haenszel method using odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (OR (95%CI)) and inverse variance with mean difference with 95% confidence intervals (MD (95%CI)) as an effect measure for dichotomous and continuous variables, respectively, was employed for meta-analysis. Statistical heterogeneity among effect estimates was evaluated using I(2) and Tau(2). RESULTS: Circumferential resection margin (CRM) involvement rates (3.8% taTME; 5.3% R-TME) did not differ [OR (95%CI)=0.86 (0.35, 2.15); p=0.75] with low among-study heterogeneity (I(2)=21%). Complication rates (35.4% taTME; 32.3% R-TME) did not differ [OR (95%CI)=0.92 (0.64, 1.32); p=0.65], although with moderate among-study heterogeneity (I(2)=40%). CRM involvement [OR (95%CI)=0.76 (0.40, 1.43); p=0.40] and complication rates [OR (95%CI)=0.84 (0.59, 1.21); p=0.35] did not significantly differ in subgroup meta-analysis including mid- and low rectal cancer. Distal resection margin (mm) did not significantly differ between the interventions [MD (95%CI)=-0.41 (-1.29, 0.47); p=0.37]. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis found that taTME of rectal cancer does not improve histopathology metrics and complication rates when compared to R-TME.

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