Converted Laparoscopic Resection of Upper Rectal Carcinoma T1-4 N0-1 in Obese Patients.

Study design: A randomized control study assigned to involve obese patients with BMI 30 diagnosed with upper rectal carcinoma T1-4 N0-1, 181 patients assigned into two arms and operated in multi-centres in a tertiary hospitals.

Ethical approval and clinical registration: Our study was submitted, revised and finally permitted and approved by the Institutional Review Board of the Zagazig University hospital, faculty of medicine, holding number IR-20780302-1, and informed consent was obtained from all participants agreed to be involved. Study registered in ClinicalTrial.gove: ID: ………

Protocol and setting:

A study was done in the period from December 2016 to December 2019 and data registered after each procedure in our database system The controlled arm included patients underwent open anterior resection (OAR) for upper rectal carcinoma and divided into Ia, underwent OAR and IIa, included patients with cLAR, whereas Group II included patients underwent LAR.

Method of randomization:

Randomization was done via a computer-generated protocol, already designed and uploaded in our database, and the results were unlabeled and sealed into envelopes. These envelopes were opened in the operating room by the head-nurse and an assistant surgery specialist who was not engaged in the study

Inclusion criteria

Obese patients with BMI ≥27 with operable upper rectal carcinoma staged T1-4 N0-1 based on colonoscopy, endo-rectal ultrasound, CT abdomen and pelvis and MRI abdomen Exclusion criteria BMI less than 27, According to AJCC TNM staging 7th edition, N2-3 patients were excluded, any evidence of inoperability whether distant metastasis or invasive tumours, Patients with synchronous colorectal tumours, synchronous liver metastasis obstructive symptomatic patients and patients with intraoperative tumour rupture or perforation, rectal tumours below peritoneal reflection.

There are 2 parameters prospectively assessed and registered in our database: First the clinical parameters, second is the onco-pathological parameter Clinical parameter included, operative basic demographic data (age, sex and BMI), peri-operative clinical variables ( operative time, intraoperative complication, completeness of TME, the feasibility of stapling, causes of conversion if there, postoperative (PO) short term outcome, Recovery, hospital stay, PO morbidity and bowel function.

The onco-pathological outcome included: tumour site, site and staging of tumour according to TNM- longitudinal and circumferential resection margin- LN involved (N) - loco-regional recurrence and recurrence-free survival.

Intervention methods The preoperative nCRT: our protocol according to a multidisciplinary tumour board committee, is to give a long course of neo-adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy for mid and lower rectal cancer but upper rectum, we give a 4 weeks course of CRT, 45 Gy with systemic 5-fluorouracil based regimen infusion. This is proposed for stage II-III not stage I.

Inclusion criteria

• Obese patients with BMI ≥27 with operable upper rectal carcinoma staged T1-4 N0-1 based on colonoscopy, endo-rectal ultrasound, CT abdomen and pelvis and MRI abdomen

Exclusion criteria

• BMI less than 27, According to AJCC TNM staging 7th edition, N2-3 patients were excluded, any evidence of inoperability whether distant metastasis or invasive tumours, Patients with synchronous colorectal tumours, synchronous liver metastasis obstructive symptomatic patients and patients with intraoperative tumour rupture or perforation, rectal tumours below peritoneal reflection