Total Mesorectal Excision for Mid-Rectal Cancer Without Anastomosis: Low Hartmann's Operation or Intersphincteric Abdomino-Perineal Excision?

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In mid-rectal cancer, the low colorectal anastomosis is, although feasible, sometimes avoided. The aim was to compare low Hartmann's procedure with intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision of the rectum, in patients operated with total mesorectal excision for mid-rectal cancer in whom the low anastomosis was technically feasible but for patient-related reasons undesired.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 64 consecutive patients with mid-rectal cancer who underwent low Hartmann's procedure (n = 34) or intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision (n = 30) at one colorectal unit were compared regarding patient demography, short-term oncology, surgical outcome at 3 and 24 months, and long-term overall survival.

RESULTS: There were no significant differences between intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision and Hartmann's procedure regarding age, gender distribution, body mass index, preoperative radiotherapy, tumor level, or cancer stages. Operation time was shorter in Hartmann's procedure as compared with intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision, median 174 and 256 min, (P < 0.001), and intraoperative blood loss was increased, 600 and 500 mL, respectively (P = 0.045). Number of lymph nodes and circumferential resection margin were comparable. In Hartmann's procedure compared with intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision, the need for reoperation was 24% and 3%, (P = 0.020), complications classified as Clavien-Dindo 3-4 occurred in 32% and 10%, (P = 0.031), pelvic abscess in 21% and 10%, (P = 0.313), and mortality within 90 days was 3% and 0%, respectively, (P = 0.938). In intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision, the perineal wound was not healed at 3 months in 13%, and in Hartmann's procedure 15% had chronic secretion from the anorectal remnant at 2 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSION: The results from this study suggest that intersphincteric abdomino-perineal excision might be an alternative to Hartmann's procedure in patients with mid-rectal cancer, in whom a low colorectal anastomosis is undesired.