Single-Incision Plus One Port Laparoscopic Total Pelvic Exenteration After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Advanced Primary Rectal Cancer: A Case Report

Limited data on laparoscopic and robotic total pelvic exenteration (TPE) for gynecologic, urologic, and rectal malignancies have been published in the literature. Single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) has been successfully introduced for colon cancer. Here, we describe our experience of TPE with SILS+1 port (SILS+1) for advanced rectal cancer. A 64-year-old man was referred to our hospital with anemia. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a rectal tumor that was contiguous with the seminal vesicle and bladder. Rectoscopy revealed an ulcerated, bleeding, and stricturing lesion in the rectum, which was defined as an adenocarcinoma with a moderate degree of differentiation on histologic examination. The patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy using capecitabine, oxaliplatin, and bevacizumab. After 3 courses of chemotherapy, a rectovesical fistula was suspected from examination of CT images. CT demonstrated intramural gas in the urinary bladder, which suggested a diagnosis of emphysematous cystitis. Thus, we constructed a transverse loop colostomy. Two months after the last administration of chemotherapy, we performed SILS+1 TPE. The procedure involved a 35-mm incision in the right side of the umbilicus for the insertion of a single multichannel port, and insertion of a 12-mm port into the right lower quadrant. Total operating time was 751 minutes, and estimated blood loss was 1100 mL (including urine). SILS+1 TPE is a technically promising alternative method for the treatment of selected patients with advanced rectal cancer.