Table 3.

Overview of quality of life of the included studies

Study	Technique	Global health score
		4 m	6 m	8 m	12 m
Heijden et al	L-TME/TaTME				NS
Kim et al. (AoS)	L-TME/R-TME				NS
Kim et al. (CRD)	L-TME/R-TME				NS
Mei et al	L-TME/TaTME		NS		TaS
Ng et al	O-TME/L-TME	LS		LS	NS

L-TME Laparoscopic total mesorectal excision; LS laparoscopic significantly better; m months; NR not reported; NS non-significant; O-TME open total mesorectal excision; Post-op postoperative; Pre-op preoperative; R-TME robotic total mesorectal excision; TaTM, transanal total mesorectal excision; TaS transanal significantly better