Quality of life, bowel dysfunction, and long-term oncological outcomes after transanal versus laparoscopic…

Randomized trialBJS open· Jul 2026

Quality of life, bowel dysfunction, and long-term oncological outcomes after transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for mid- and low- rectal cancer (Ta-LaTME study): multicentre randomized open-label trial.

Xavier Serra-Aracil, Anna Gonzalez, Josep Bargalló … Ta-LaTME Study Group

Colon & Rectal SurgeryRandomized trialTreatmentQ1IF 3.6

Major bowel dysfunction after surgery was more common following total mesorectal excision than laparoscopic total mesorectal excision.

Quality of life, bowel dysfunction, and long-term oncological outcomes after transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for mid- and low- rectal cancer (Ta-LaTME study): multicentre randomized open-label trial.

Xavier Serra-Aracil … Ta-LaTME Study Group

BJS open · Jul 2026 · Q1 in Surgery

Background

Quality of life (quality of life) and bowel function are key outcomes in mid- and low rectal cancer.

Methods

The sample size calculation was based on the primary endpoint from the original randomized clinical trial (composite conversion outcome), for which 116 patients were required.

n = 116 patients

Results

Total mesorectal excision patients were more likely to have severe long-term bowel dysfunction

LaTME

30%

TaTME

44%

More results

Postoperative global health status (EORTC QLQ-C30) was high in both groups (median score 83.3) with no significant differences between them, and functional scales remained near maximum, with improved emotional functioning after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision only.

More results

Using the EORTC QLQ-CR29 score, total mesorectal excision showed higher postoperative stool frequency, flatulence, and faecal incontinence, with similar body image and sexual function.

“

Conclusion · 1 of 2

Overall quality of life and bowel function remained high, with no detectable between-group differences. total mesorectal excision was associated with a higher burden of specific evacuatory symptoms on the EORTC QLQ-CR29.

Conclusion · 2 of 2

Long-term oncological outcomes did not differ significantly between techniques. Registration number: NCT02550769 (http://www.clinicaltrials.gov).

Quality of life, bowel dysfunction, and long-term oncological outcomes after transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for mid- and low- rectal cancer (Ta-LaTME study): multicentre randomized open-label trial.

Quality of life, bowel dysfunction, and long-term oncological outcomes after transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for mid- and low- rectal cancer (Ta-LaTME study): multicentre randomized open-label trial.

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