Rectal Washout in Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision and Presence of Intraluminal Malignant Cells

Rectal washout is performed intraoperatively before transection and means irrigation of the rectum following the closure of the rectal lumen below the tumour with a purse string suture. Rectal washout is performed with a total of 500 ml sterile water. Fluid samples are collected after every 100 ml by instilling 50 ml of saline after each washout. A sixth sample is collected from the presacral cavity.