Table 2 Surgical outcomes and early complications
|  | HL (n = 295) | LL (n = 221) | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
Surgical approach [n (%)] | Â | Â | 0.425 |
 Laparoscopic surgery | 250 (84.7) | 192 (86.9) |  |
 Open surgery | 40 (13.6) | 23 (10.4) |  |
 Laparoscopic conversed to open surgery | 5 (1.7) | 6 (2.7) |  |
Surgical resection | Â | Â | 0.454 |
 PME | 89 (30.2) | 60 (27.1) |  |
 TME | 206 (69.8) | 161 (72.9) |  |
Operating time: minutes | 211.7 ± 44.5 | 224.7 ± 32.7 | 0.039 |
Operative bleeding: ml | 70.0 ± 23.5 | 76.0 ± 39.4 | 0.252 |
Splenic flexure mobilization [n (%)] | 18 (6.1) | 29 (13.1) | 0.006 |
Postoperative mortality [n (%)] | 4 (1.4) | 2 (0.9) | 0.884 a |
Postoperative complication morbidity b [n (%)] | Â | Â | 0.788 |
 Mild c | 78 (26.4) | 64 (29.0) |  |
 Severe d | 35 (11.9) | 27 (12.2) |  |
Anastomotic level from anal verge: cm | 5.6 ± 2.1 | 5.9 ± 2.0 | 0.418 |
Protective ileostomies [n (%)] | 71 (24.1) | 66 (29.9) | 0.140 |
Anastomotic bleeding [n (%)] | 16 (5.4) | 13 (5.9) | 0.823 |
Anastomotic stenosis [n (%)] | 7 (2.4) | 5 (2.3) | 0.934 |
Anastomotic leakage e [n (%)] | Â | Â | 0.202 |
 Grade B | 32 (10.8) | 14 (6.3) |  |
 Grade C | 7 (2.4) | 5 (2.3) |  |
Reoperation | 7 (2.4) | 4 (1.8) | 0.691 a |
Postoperative hospital stay: days | 6.4 ± 2.4 | 7.1 ± 4.1 | 0.155 |