Transanal Transection and Single-stapled Anastomosis (TTSS) in Rectal Cancer Patients

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult (≥ 18 years old) patients, men and women, diagnosed with rectal cancer scheduled for elective rectal resection with Total Mesorectal Excision (TME) with double-stapled or Transanal Transection and Single-Stapled anastomosis (TTSS) approaches. * Patients scheduled for open, laparoscopic, or robotic surgery. * Patients preoperatively indicated for sphincter-saving procedures with or without protective-stoma. Exclusion Criteria: * Immediate or delayed hand-sewn coloanal anastomosis. * Patients requiring abdominoperineal resection (APR). Patients undergoing unplanned non-reconstructive surgery will be withdrawn from the study. * Patients with concurrent or previous invasive pelvic malignant tumors. Patients with an intraoperative evidence of invasive pelvic malignant tumors will be withdrawn from the study.