CompletedNot Applicable

Quality of Life After Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision Compared to Traditional Total Mesorectal Excision

Switzerland249 participantsStarted 2024-08-01

Plain-language summary

The improvement in prognosis of rectal cancer through modern therapy modalities rises questions regarding quality of life (QoL) and functional outcomes. Evidence for long-term QoL and functional outcomes of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) is not provided in current literature. This study will compare short-term and long-term QoL and functional outcomes after taTME compared to traditional abdominal TME (laparoscopic, robotic, and open approach)

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * elective total mesorectal excision followed by reconstruction with anastomosis for primary rectal cancer Exclusion Criteria: * diagnoses other than rectal cancer * recurrent rectal cancer * partial mesorectal excision * discontinuity resection (no anastomosis) * incomplete TNM staging information * metastatic cancer * 30-day mortality * lack of quality of life data * patient decline * age under 18 years

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Quality of life (QoL)

Timeframe: 5 years after initial operation

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06505863

SponsorCantonal Hospital of St. Gallen

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2025-01-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Rectal Cancer trials