After matching (n =160), there were no significant differences between the PDM (n=80) and non-PDM groups (n=80) for all covariables (i.e., age, gender, BMI, preoperative serum albumin level, smoking within a year, preoperative ileus, diabetes mellitus, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical condition score, coronary artery disease, neoadjuvant therapy, treatment modality, distance between tumor and anal verge, diverting stoma, air leak test, and transanal tube) (Table 4). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and neoplasm.