Choice of surgical methods for rectal cancer

  The overall 5-year survival rate after radical resection of rectal malignancies is about 75%, and the 5-year survival rate after early stage (T1-2) surgery can be more than 90%. At present, due to the progress of surgical medical technology, many patients with rectal malignant tumor who originally needed to make enterostomy (artificial anus) are free from the pain of artificial anus, which improves the quality of life of patients. Surgical resection is still the best treatment for rectal malignant tumors. There are many surgical methods for rectal malignant tumors, which are selected according to the location of the tumor, the depth of invasion, the degree of cell differentiation and the ability of bowel control before surgery.  Local excision: It is suitable for early malignant rectal tumors with small tumor body, limited to mucosa or submucosa layer and high degree of differentiation (T1-2 stage). MR or ultrasound enteroscopy can effectively determine the stage of rectal malignant tumor.  Second, combined abdominal perineal radical rectal malignancy surgery (Miles surgery): it is suitable for anal canal cancer, lower rectal cancer (the lower edge of the cancer is within 5cm from the anal edge), or patients with combined anal incontinence. Although it is a classical TME surgery, the surgery is more traumatic, the removal of tumor is more complete, and the quality of life is affected to some extent is its shortcoming.  Transabdominal rectal malignant tumor resection (Dixon surgery): Related literature reports that rectal malignant tumor rarely infiltrates downward more than 2cm, and lymphatic does not metastasize retrogradely, and 2cm from the lower edge of the tumor can be resected. The classical Dixon anal preservation surgery can be performed for malignant rectal tumors of 6 cm or even 4-5 cm from the anal verge. After a lot of clinical practice, the author found that the surgery is completed in one time, and most of them do not need protective enterostomy, which reduces the medical cost of patients, shortens the hospitalization time and improves the quality of life.  4. Intersphincteric dissection: This technique removes the internal rectal sphincter and preserves the external rectal sphincter, thus enabling the radical removal of rectal malignant tumors 4 cm from the anal verge and preserving the anus, which improves the rate of anal preservation and enables more patients to realize the wish of anal preservation. It is suitable for patients with early stage T1-2 tumors.  V. Transabdominal rectal malignant tumor resection, proximal stoma (artificial anus) and distal closure surgery (Hartmann surgery): it is suitable for patients with rectal malignant tumor who are not suitable for Dixon surgery due to poor general condition, old age and frailty and cannot tolerate Miles surgery or acute obstruction of rectal malignant tumor and anal incontinence.  With the improvement of laparoscopic technology and instruments, laparoscopic rectal malignant tumor resection technology is also developing. Minimally invasive surgery has the advantages of small trauma, short hospital stay, fast postoperative recovery and small abdominal wall scars. However, no statistical difference was found in the survival rate compared with traditional surgery. rectal malignancies in patients with T4 stage or above are contraindications to laparoscopic surgery. Combination therapy such as radiotherapy and immunotherapy also has certain efficacy.