Transanal Transection and Single-stapled Anastomosis (TTSS) in Rectal Cancer Patients

The Transanal Transection and Single-Stapled anastomosis (TTSS) technique has become a valid alternative to the standard double-stapled anastomosis approach in the surgical treatment of low rectal cancer. Recent evidence showed a significantly reduced number of anastomotic leaks in patients undergoing TTSS compared with patients receiving double-stapled anastomosis, suggesting that TTSS may be technically feasible and may provide a surgical advantage over the traditional double-stapled technique. However, these studies were severely limited by their single-center and retrospective nature. This study aims to confirm the retrospective findings by extending the data collection to additional countries and provide prospective data collection.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult (≥ 18 years old) patients, men and women, diagnosed with rectal cancer scheduled for elective rectal resection with Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) with double-stapled or Transanal Transection and Single-Stapled anastomosis (TTSS) approaches.
• Patients scheduled for open, laparoscopic, or robotic surgery.
• Patients preoperatively indicated for sphincter-saving procedures with or without protective-stoma.

Exclusion criteria

• Immediate or delayed hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis.
• Patients requiring abdominoperineal resection (APR). Patients undergoing unplanned non-reconstructive surgery will be withdrawn from the study.
• Patients with concurrent or previous invasive pelvic malignant tumors. Patients with an intraoperative evidence of invasive pelvic malignant tumors will be withdrawn from the study.