Laparoscopic total mesorectum excision with the guidance of membrane anatomy

Abstract

The efficacy of laparoscopic total mesorectum excision (TME) has been confirmed by many clinical trials and guidelines. But two issues on laparoscopic TME are still questioned, including the integrity of specimen membrane of TME and the incidence of postoperative sexual dysfunction. According to my experiences and the primary results of the multicenter clinical trial (LASRE, clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01899547) conducted by me, the integrity of the specimen membrane of laparoscopic TME is not inferior to the open TME. With the further understanding of surgical membrane anatomy, the quality of surgical specimen after laparoscopic TME could be improved, and the incidence of postoperative sexual dysfunction could be lowered. With the combination of my laparoscopic experiences and the theory of surgical membrane anatomy, this article introduces the peri-rectal space dissection during TME and its relationship with the membrane anatomy for reference. It suggests that laparoscopic TME should be performed with the guidelines of surgical membrane anatomy: (1) To cut membrane bridge of left para-rectal furrow and enter left retroperitoneal space; (2) Along the autonomic nerve, to separate retrorectal space first, then rectal front space, and bilateral rectal space finally; (3) To cut anterior lobe of Denonvilliers fascia using U shape 0.5 to 1 cm away from the bottom of seminal vesicle, if existence of tumor invasion in fascia, to separate downward in front; (4) To separate mesorectum to the edge of hiatus of levator ani muscle and then bare.