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Meta-Analysis
. 2024 Aug 9;39(1):129.
doi: 10.1007/s00384-024-04703-x.

Quality of life and functional outcomes after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LaTME) and transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) for rectal cancer. an updated meta-analysis

Sara Lauricella  1 , Francesco Brucchi  2 , Francesco Maria Carrano  3 , Diletta Cassini  4 , Roberto Cirocchi  5 , Patricia Sylla  6
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Quality of life and functional outcomes after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (LaTME) and transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) for rectal cancer. an updated meta-analysis

Sara Lauricella et al. Int J Colorectal Dis. .

Abstract

Purpose: Concerns exist regarding the potential for transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) to yield poorer functional outcomes compared to laparoscopic TME (LaTME). The aim of this study is to assess the functional outcomes following taTME and LaTME, focusing on bowel, anorectal, and urogenital disorders and their impact on the patient's QoL.

Methods: A systematic review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and A Measurement Tool to Assess systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) guidelines. A comprehensive search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases. The variables considered are: Low Anterior Resection Syndrome (LARS), International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and Jorge-Wexner scales; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ-C29 and QLQ-C30 scales.

Results: Eleven studies involving 1020 patients (497-taTME group/ 523-LaTME group) were included. There was no significant difference between the treatments in terms of anorectal function: LARS (MD: 2.81, 95% CI: - 2.45-8.08, p = 0.3; I2 = 97%); Jorge-Wexner scale (MD: -1.3, 95% CI: -3.22-0.62, p = 0.19). EORTC QLQ C30/29 scores were similar between the groups. No significant differences were reported in terms of urogenital function: IPSS (MD: 0.0, 95% CI: - 1.49-1.49, p = 0.99; I2 = 72%).

Conclusions: This review supports previous findings indicating that functional outcomes and QoL are similar for rectal cancer patients who underwent taTME or LaTME. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and understand the long-term impact of the functional sequelae of these surgical approaches.

Keywords: Functional outcomes; Laparoscopic TME; Meta-analysis; Quality of Life; Rectal cancer; Transanal TME.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) flowchart of the literature search
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Forest plots of mean differences of (a) low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) score, (b) low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) major events, (c) Wexner score, (d) International Prostate Syndrome Core (IPSS), (e) International Prostate Syndrome Core (IPSS) comparison in case of moderate and severe symptoms; TaTME transanal total mesorectal excision, LaTME laparoscopic total mesorectal excision
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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