Short-term efficacy of natural orifice specimen extraction surgery for low rectal cancer

Figure 1 Surgical procedure. A: The bowel loop was divided at the site 10 cm proximal to the tumor; B: A pair of purse-string forceps was inserted via the anus to hold the end of the rectal stump, which was then pulled and everted out of the body through the anus; C: Dilute complex iodine was used to wash the everted rectum serval times; D: Under direct vision, the purse-string forceps were used to clamp the rectum at the site 1 to 2 cm below the tumor; E: A pair of sponge forceps was inserted via the anus to pull the distal sigmoid colon out of the body through the anus; F: The blood supply to the distal end of the sigmoid colon was verified; G: The anvil was inserted into the sigmoid colon and the purse-string was secured onto the anvil shaft; H: Rectal sigmoid end-to-end anastomosis; I: There was no auxiliary incision in the abdominal wall.

Figure 2 Postoperative pain scores between the natural orifice specimen extraction surgery group and the laparoscopy group. NOSES: Natural orifice specimen extraction surgery; LAP: Laparoscopy.