Postoperative urinary retention following transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer: A randomized trial report from an experienced center.

BACKGROUND

Transanal total mesorectal excision has emerged as a potential solution to certain limitations associated with laparoscopic total mesorectal excision in rectal cancer patients. Differences in surgical approaches have raised questions regarding their impact on the risk of postoperative urinary retention, with limited data available from large scale randomized clinical study.

OBJECTIVE

To report incidence of postoperative urinary retention and evaluate the associated risk factors for transanal total mesorectal excision.

DESIGN

In this randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials. gov NCT06147492), we retrieved 524 patients who received total mesorectal excision (TME) for stage I-III rectal cancer between June 2019 and April 2022, and the patients were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to undergo either taTME or laTME.

PATIENTS

We enrolled 524 patients who underwent total mesorectal excision for stage I-III rectal cancer between June 2019 and April 2022.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The incidence of postoperative urinary retention.

RESULTS

Among the 524 enrolled patients, 261 were randomized to the laTME group, while 263 were were randomized the taTME group. The median age was 58 years, and 340 participants (64.8 %) were male. Notably, 37 individuals (7.0 %) experienced postoperative urinary retention during the follow-up period, with no significant disparity was observed between the taTME and laTME groups (6.8 % and 7.2 %, respectively,  = 0.98). Risk factors associated with PUR in patients following taTME encompassed early removal of the urinary catheter ( = 0.006), net infusion rate >4.09 ml kg.h ( = 0.006), and an age surpassing 65 years ( = 0.0321).

LIMITATIONS

The generalizability of the findings outside specialist rectal cancer centers may be limited

CONCLUSIONS

Transanal total mesorectal excision was not found to heighten the risk of postoperative urinary retention. Nonetheless, it is advisable removing postoperative catheter beyond the initial day and exercising caution in the administration of intravenous fluids in clinical practice for taTME procedures.