Background: An exact lymph node staging is essential in the treatment of rectal cancer. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of indigo carmine injection on the number of retrieved and positive lymph nodes after transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME). Design: This is a retrospective, non-randomised study. Settings: This study was conducted at a tertiary hospital by a multidisciplinary team. Patients: Between 2013 and 2019, patients undergoing transanal total mesorectal excision were analysed. Patients with indigo carmine injection (intervention group) were compared to those without (control group). Interventions: Transanal total mesorectal excision was performed with or without ex vivo intra-arterial indigo carmine injection. Main Outcome Measures: The number of retrieved and positive lymph nodes was the primary outcome measure.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
189
Ex vivo intra-arterial injection of 20 ml indigo carmine solution (10mL, 0.4% indigo carmine with 10mL, 0.9% saline solution) in the transanal total mesorectal excision specimen via the inferior mesenteric artery.
Department of General, Visceral, Endocrine and Transplantation Surgery, Cantonal Hospital St. Gallen
Rorschach, Switzerland
retrieved lymph nodes
number of lymph nodes retrieved by pathologist from the specimen
Time frame: 1 - 7 days after surgery
positive lymph nodes
number of lymph nodes with microscopic tumor infiltration
Time frame: 1 - 7 days after surgery
N stage
N stage according TNM version 7
Time frame: 1 - 7 days after surgery
survival
overall survival
Time frame: 5 years
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