[Anatomical planes and landmarks of transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer and prophylaxis of intraoperative complications].

Total mesorectal excision (TME) is a mile-stone procedure in the history of rectal cancer surgery, but the exposure of surgical field of distal rectum is usually poor in patients with male, obese and narrow pelvis, which may lead to tumor residue and relative complications. Recently, a new technique called transanal TME (taTME) is considered to solve the above problems, but most medical centers are still in the learning curve of this procedure. Therefore, anatomical planes and landmarks of taTME for rectal cancer and prophylaxis of intraoperative complications are induced in this paper, which includes posterior plane: angle of anus and distal mesorectum and bleeding of mesorectum; rectosacral fascia and presacral bleeding; lateral and posterior-lateral plane: posterior branches of pelvic plexus and damage of anal function; anterior plane: vessel branches of neurovascular bundle and bleeding. Familiarity with the specific anatomical planes and landmarks plays an important role in shortening the learning curve, decreasing the complications, increasing the success rate of operation and standardization of taTME.