Total Mesorectal Excision with or without Lateral Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection in Rectal Cancer.

Our conclusion was that prophylactic addition of LPLD to TME was not associated with a statistically significant decrease in the risk of local recurrence or distant metastasis in patients with rectal cancer, although it was numerically better. LPLD is associated with longer operative time and higher intraoperative blood loss.