This study represents the first analysis of the application of the NOSE method in left hemicolectomy at a single academic medical center for treating colon cancer around the splenic flexure. Our findings demonstrate that compared to the conventional laparoscopic left hemicolectomy group, the NOSE group exhibited a shorter operation time, earlier postoperative recovery, lower pain levels on POD1, and a shorter hospital stay. Postoperative morbidity was similar between the two groups. Additionally, one patient from the NOSE group and four patients from the conventional group required readmission.
The NOSE method offers several advantages for laparotomy specimen extraction. A meta-analysis (18) revealed that compared to conventional laparoscopic surgery, NOSE is associated with reduced intraoperative bleeding, lower pain scores, shorter time to flatus, shorter hospital stays, and lower overall morbidity. In a prospective randomized controlled experiment conducted by Zhou et al. (26), the NOSE method demonstrated favorable outcomes including low postoperative visual analog scale scores, faster recovery of intestinal function, and shorter hospital stays. Patients recover faster when the specimen is not removed via laparotomy, resulting in less discomfort, decreased postoperative opiate use, and expedited return of intestinal function. These factors contribute to a shorter hospital stay and quicker return to normal activities after surgery. However, a randomized controlled trial by Wolthuis et al. (17) found no statistically significant difference in postoperative hospital stay duration between the NOSE and conventional laparoscopic groups. This result may be due to a relatively small sample size, which could have affected the study's power. In our study, patients in the NOSE group exhibited nearly one day earlier recovery of intestinal function, lower NRS scores on POD1, comparable postoperative morphine use (conventional vs. NOSE: 11.6 mg vs. 7.3 mg, P = 0.231), and discharge from the hospital approximately three days earlier compared to the conventional group.
Fecal spillage and bacterial contamination are important considerations when employing the NOSE method. Ouyang et al. (27) conducted an analysis of 185 patients who underwent either conventional laparoscopic colectomy or NOSE, and they found that the rate of bacterial positivity in peritoneal lavage fluid immediately after anastomosis was similar in both groups. This suggests that there is no significant difference in bacterial contamination between the two approaches. In our study, we also observed no statistically significant differences in C-reactive protein (CRP) levels or white blood cell (WBC) counts on postoperative day 3, indicating an acceptable inflammatory response to the NOSE procedure despite the potential for bacterial contamination during the operation.
According to Leung et al. (28), conventional laparoscopic surgery is associated with a higher risk of postoperative wound infection. However, with the NOSE procedure, all trocar wounds remain clean and uncontaminated, which minimizes the risk of infection. In our study, there were no cases of wound infection in either the conventional laparoscopic or NOSE group.
Most studies on the topic have consistently reported either similar or significantly longer operative times for patients undergoing the NOSE procedure compared to conventional laparoscopy (17, 26, 28). However, in our study, we found that the operative time was significantly shorter in the NOSE group compared to the conventional group. This discrepancy may be attributed to the fact that a large proportion of patients in the conventional group underwent an extracorporeal anastomosis (EA), which requires extensive dissection to extract a segment of the large bowel. In contrast, the intracorporeal anastomosis (IA) technique used in the NOSE procedure eliminates the need for such extensive dissection. Additionally, for experienced surgeons, the NOSE procedure is likely to be less time-consuming than laparotomy, as there is no need to close a large incision following specimen extraction.
The NOSE procedure is commonly performed through the vagina or anus. The transrectal approach varies depending on the type of colectomy, while the transvaginal approach involves a posterior colpotomy. The distal stump opening can be utilized for NOSE during colectomies involving the rectum, sigmoid colon, or distal descending colon. Some surgeons have also attempted using a colonoscopic snare to retrieve specimens from the more proximal colon. In our study, we presented an innovative method for specimen extraction involving an upper rectum enterotomy.
Transrectal NOSE is not limited to a specific gender, unlike transvaginal NOSE. It offers a universal technique applicable to various locations of colorectal tumors. In our approach, using a TEM (transanal endoscopic microsurgery) scope can minimize tumor cell spillage during the pull-through process, assuming that the anal canal can be traversed effortlessly. However, the size of the specimen to be extracted, including the tumor size and mesentery thickness, is constrained by the radius of the TEM scope. Patients with rectal strictures or anal stenosis that hinder the advancement of TEM scopes, as well as those who have undergone previous pelvic surgery resulting in severe adhesions, are not suitable candidates for this procedure.
In terms of closure, it is simpler to close a rectal incision compared to a posterior vaginal opening, when performed under laparoscope. Moreover, there is no risk of future sexual dysfunction or infertility, as the repair is limited to the gastrointestinal tract. So far, no adverse consequences such as leakage, abscess formation, stricture, or defecation dysfunction have been recorded with our approaches.
This study had several limitations that should be acknowledged. Firstly, the analysis was based on retrospective evaluation of prospectively collected data, which introduces the possibility of bias. This is especially relevant considering that the NOSE group was comprised of highly selected patients in terms of T-stage and tumor size. Secondly, the sample size of the NOSE group was relatively small, which may have resulted in insufficient statistical power to detect certain differences.
Another limitation is that the study focused solely on short-term outcomes and did not include long-term follow-up data on oncological outcomes. Therefore, the impact of the NOSE procedure on long-term survival rates or recurrence rates remains unknown.
Despite these potential limitations, it is important to note that this study represents the first investigation into the application of NOSE for left hemicolectomy specifically in cases involving tumors located around the splenic flexure.