Application of extralevator abdominoperineal excision in the surgical treatment of low rectal cancer        YE Ying-jiang, SHEN Zhan-long, CAO Jian，et al. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing 100044，China
Corresponding author: WANG Shan, E-mail: shwang60@sina.com
Abstract    Objective    To explore the preliminary application result of extralevator abdominoperineal excision（ELAPE） for low rectal cancer. Methods    The clinical pathological factors of seven patients with low rectal cancer performed ELAPE from September 2011 to April 2012 in Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Peking University People’s Hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Results    The mean operation time was 280 minutes. The mean bleeding amount was 150 mL. No iatrogenic intestinal perforation was found in operation. All specimens were proved circumferential resection margin (CRM) without“surgical waist”. One patient with delayed union of perineal incision was healed uneventfully. Postoperative intestinal obstruction was occurred in one patient. Conclusion    ELAPE is a safe and feasible surgical approach of low rectal cancer. ELAPE might reduce the incidence of positive CRM and intestinal perforation and has a better prognosis than conventional abdominoperineal resection (APR). It might become a recommended surgical approach for low rectal cancer in the future.