Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery: Review of Indications and Outcomes from 75 Consecutive Patients

Transvaginal resection of a gastrointestinal stromal tumor of the rectum: a case report

BACKGROUND

The most common curative treatment for gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) is local excision. For rectal GISTs, however, local excision is difficult because of the anatomical features of the rectum. The optimal surgical approach is still under debate, and less invasive methods are desired. We herein report a case of transvaginal resection of a rectal GIST in a young woman.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 21-year-old woman was diagnosed with a resectable GIST in the anterior rectal wall and underwent transvaginal tumor resection. The posterior vaginal wall was incised, revealing the tumor fully covered by the rectal mucosa. The rectal adventitia and muscular layer were incised, and the tumor was resected en bloc without rupture. The postoperative course was favorable, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 12. No findings consistent with recurrence were present 6 months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Transvaginal tumor resection is a treatment option as a minimally invasive procedure for GISTs in the anterior rectal wall in female patients.

Transanal minimally invasive surgery for benign and malignant rectal lesions: midterm outcomes from a tertiary center

BACKGROUND

Although transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) for rectal neoplasia has gained wide acceptance, the mid-term and long-term outcomes are not widely reported in the literature.

OBJECTIVE

Describe the mid-term outcomes of patients who underwent TAMIS for benign and malignant rectal lesions in a single center.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTINGS

Tertiary referral center.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Demographic, clinical, and oncological outcomes of patients who underwent TAMIS between January 2015 and December 2022 were prospectively collected. The indication for TAMIS was based on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. The follow up for the cancer patients included clinical examination, tumor markers every 6 months and MRI rectum at the end of one year. In addition, colonoscopy and CT scan at years one and three and a final CT scan and colonoscopy at year five.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Mid-term oncological and clinical outcome.

RESULTS

Thirty elective TAMIS procedures included adenocarcinoma for 33.3% (n=10) of the patients, 20% (n=6) neuroendocrine tumor and the 40% (n=12) were adenomatous lesions. Negative resection margins were achieved in all malignant lesions. Perioperative complications occurred in 2 patients (6.6%), one patient had breaching into the peritoneal cavity, and postoperative hypotension occurred in another patient. The median follow-up time was 23 months (range: 5-72 months). Two patients with adenoma and positive margins developed recurrent adenoma (6.6%) and one patient with initial polypectomy biopsy of adenocarcinoma, had TAMIS with histopathology of adenoma and distant metastasis had developed.

CONCLUSIONS

TAMIS for local excision of rectal neoplasia is a valid option with favorable mid-term outcomes provided there is adherence to careful selection criteria.

LIMITATIONS

Retrospective nature and small number of the patients.

Rare rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor case: A case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal tract accounting for less than 1% of all gut tumors. GISTs occurring in the rectum are extremely rare, and these usually present at an advanced stage compared with other sites.

CASE SUMMARY

A 60-year-old male who presented with features of sensations of rectal tenesmus was referred to our department with a mass in the lower rectum that was detected during a routine checkup. Colonoscopy, transrectal ultrasound, perianal magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonic contrast were used to diagnose the rectum GIST, and then the patient underwent complete transanal resection using the ultrasonic scalpel. The patient was discharged ten days after the operation and was defined as low risk. Therefore, he had no need to receive subsequent adjuvant therapies, and he had not suffered any anal dysfunction or had any evidence of recurrence at follow up.

CONCLUSION

Surgical resection with histologically negative margins is the standard curative treatment for rectal GISTs. Appropriate surgical techniques based on the location, size, and resectability of the tumor should attract great attention from clinicians.

Risk of recurrence after local resection of T1 rectal cancer: a meta-analysis with meta-regression

BACKGROUND

T1 rectal cancer (RC) patients are increasingly being treated by local resection alone but uniform surveillance strategies thereafter are lacking. To determine whether different local resection techniques influence the risk of recurrence and cancer-related mortality, a meta-analysis was performed.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted for T1RC patients treated with local surgical resection. The primary outcome was the risk of RC recurrence and RC-related mortality. Pooled estimates were calculated using mixed-effect logistic regression. We also systematically searched and evaluated endoscopically treated T1RC patients in a similar manner.

RESULTS

In 2585 unique T1RC patients (86 studies) undergoing local surgical resection, the overall pooled cumulative incidence of recurrence was 9.1% (302 events, 95% CI 7.3-11.4%; I2 = 68.3%). In meta-regression, the recurrence risk was associated with histological risk status (p < 0.005; low-risk 6.6%, 95% CI 4.4-9.7% vs. high-risk 28.2%, 95% CI 19-39.7%) and local surgical resection technique (p < 0.005; TEM/TAMIS 7.7%, 95% CI 5.3-11.0% vs. other local surgical excisions 10.8%, 95% CI 6.7-16.8%). In 641 unique T1RC patients treated with flexible endoscopic excision (16 studies), the risk of recurrence (7.7%, 95% CI 5.2-11.2%), cancer-related mortality (2.3%, 95% CI 1.1-4.9), and cancer-related mortality among patients with recurrence (30.0%, 95% CI 14.7-49.4%) were comparable to outcomes after TEM/TAMIS (risk of recurrence 7.7%, 95% CI 5.3-11.0%, cancer-related mortality 2.8%, 95% CI 1.2-6.2% and among patients with recurrence 35.6%, 95% CI 21.9-51.2%).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T1 rectal cancer may have a significantly lower recurrence risk after TEM/TAMIS compared to other local surgical resection techniques. After TEM/TAMIS and endoscopic resection the recurrence risk, cancer-related mortality and cancer-related mortality among patients with recurrence were comparable. Recurrence was mainly dependent on histological risk status.

Initial Experience With Trans-anal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) for Rectal Polyps and Early Colorectal Cancers at Cumberland Infirmary, Carlisle

INTRODUCTION

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer in the United Kingdom in 2019. Total mesorectal excision is the standard procedure for the removal of rectal tumors, however, it comes with serious side effects. Therefore, less invasive procedures and sphincter preservation techniques have been developed, like conventional trans-anal excision, and trans-anal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). In 2010, trans-anal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) was introduced as an alternative to TEM, which offers the same benefits as TEM but at a lower cost and without the need for specialized instrumentation. This study aims to assess the practicability and safety of this technique and to report its findings.  Methods: Retrospective data of all patients who underwent TAMIS at Cumberland Infirmary (Carlisle, UK) from July 2017 to July 2022 for large benign rectal polyps or early rectal cancer were collected. Variables collected included patients' age, gender, number of procedures per year, perioperative outcome, and histopathology outcome. The SPSS version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) was used for both descriptive and inferential analyses of the data.

RESULTS

During a five-year period, 42 patients underwent TAMIS at Cumberland Infirmary. The primary indication for TAMIS was distal rectal lesions, large rectal polyps up to 120 mm, and early rectal cancer (T1). The median age of the assessed patients at the time of surgery was 71 years with 64.29% (27) male and 35.71% (15) female. The mean operating time was 123 minutes (range 45 to 240 minutes). The surgical and pathological outcome included a mean polyp size of 6 cm (+/- 0.8 cm), a rate of specimen fragmentation at 19.04% (n=8), and a rate of positive margins at 04.76% (n=2), whereas histology of 73.81% (n=31) was tubulovillous adenoma and 11.91% (n=5) was adenocarcinoma. There was no 30-day postoperative mortality, however, the 30-day re-operation rate was 02.39% (n=1) and the recurrence rate which needed further intervention was 26.19% (n=11).

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that TAMIS produces positive results. The size of the lesions removed, and the effect of an early learning curve are reflected in the rate of specimen fragmentation and polyp recurrence. Nonetheless, TAMIS is a safe and effective alternative to total mesorectal excision for certain types of rectal lesions and should be used for more proximal and complex rectal lesions.

Prevalence and Management of Cancer of the Rectal Stump after Total Colectomy and Rectal Sparing in Patients with Familial Polyposis: Results from a Registry-Based Study

BACKGROUND

The balance between quality of life and colorectal cancer risk in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) patients is of primary importance. A cut-off of less than 30 polyps under 1 cm of diameter in the rectum has been used as an indication for performing ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) in terms of lower rectal cancer risk. This study aimed to assess clinical and surgical features of FAP patients who developed cancer of the rectal stump.

METHODS

This retrospective study included all FAP patients who underwent total colectomy/IRA from 1977 to 2021 and developed subsequent rectal cancer. Patients' features were reported using descriptive statistics by considering the overall case series and within pre-specified classes of age (<20, 20-30, and >30 years) at first surgery.

RESULTS

Among the 715 FAP patients, 47 (6.57%, 95% confidence interval: 4.87; 8.65) developed cancer in the rectal stump during follow-up. In total, 57.45% of the population were male and 38.30% were proband. The median interval between surgery and the occurrence of rectal cancer was 13 years. This interval was wider in the youngest group (p-value: 0.012) than the oldest ones. Twelve patients (25.53%) received an endoscopic or minimally invasive resection. Amongst them, 61.70% were Dukes stage A cancers.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a definite risk of rectal cancer after total colectomy/IRA; however, the time interval from the index procedure to cancer developing is long. Minimally invasive and endoscopic treatments should be the procedures of choice in patients with early stage cancers.

Multidisciplinary management of early rectal cancer - The role of surgical local excision in current and future clinical practice

The implementation of bowel cancer screening programs has led to a rise in the incidence of early rectal cancer. The combination of increased incidence and the growing interest in organ-sparing treatment options has led to an amplified importance of local excision techniques in treatment strategies for early rectal cancer. In addition, developments in new technologies of single-port surgery have popularized surgical techniques. Although local treatment of early rectal cancer seems promising, a multidisciplinary approach is necessary and awareness of the oncological robustness is warranted to enable shared decision-making. This review illustrates the position of surgical local excision in the treatment of early rectal cancer and reflects on its role in current and future clinical practice.

Transanal minimally invasive surgery using laparoscopic instruments of the rectum: A review

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) was first described in 2010 as an alternative to transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). The TAMIS technique can be access to the proximal and mid-rectum for resection of benign and early-stage malignant rectal lesions and also used for noncurative intent surgery of more advanced lesions in patients who are not candidates for radical surgery. TAMIS has a shorter learning curve, reduced device setup time, flexibility in instrument use, and versatility in application than TEM. Also, TAMIS shows similar results in a view of the operation time, conversion rate, reoperation rate, and complication to TEM. For these reasons, TAMIS is an easily accessible, technically feasible, and cost-effective alternative to TEM. Overall, TAMIS has enabled the performance of high-quality local excision of rectal lesions by many colorectal surgeons. As TAMIS becomes more broadly utilized such as pelvic abscess drainage, rectal stenosis, and treatment of anastomotic dehiscence, the acquisition of appropriate training must be ensured, and the continued assessment and assurance of outcome must be maintained.

Transanal minimal invasive surgery (TAMIS): safety and feasibility for the resection of benign and malignant lesions of the rectum

Objectives

Radical surgery for rectal tumours has high morbidity. Local excision of such tumours can be achieved without compromising oncologic safety. However tumours that are not accessible to local excision can be approached using Transanal Minimal Invasive Surgery (TAMIS). The aim of our study was to assess feasibility of TAMIS procedure in terms of complications, operating time, resection margin positivity, hospital stay and local recurrence rate.

Material and Methods

Forty eight patients with benign adenomas or early stage adenocarcinoma, within 4 to 12 cm from anal verge who were subjected to TAMIS over a period of 3 years were included in the study. Short and long term outcomes were assessed.

Results

TAMIS was performed for 36 benign adenomas and 12 adenocarcinomas, which were located at an average distance of 6.2 cm from anal verge. The mean operating time was 72 minutes. There were no intraoperative complications.1 (2.08%) patient suffered post operative bleeding, which was managed conservatively. 2 (4.16%) patients developed acute urinary retention who required indwelling catheterisation. Resection margin was positive in 3 (6.25%) benign cases. Average hospital stay was 2.7 days. Local recurrence occurred in 2 (4.16%) villous adenoma patients (after 11 and 13 months), whereas in malignant patients there was no recurrence at a follow up period ranging between 12 to 36 months.

Conclusion

TAMIS is a safe and feasible procedure for benign tumours and early rectal cancers, located in low and middle rectum.

Education and Training in Transanal Endoscopic Surgery and Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision

There is a paradigm shift in surgical training, and new tool and technology are being used to facilitate mastery of the content and technical skills. The transanal procedures for rectal cancer-transanal endoscopic surgery (TES) and transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME)-have a distinct learning curve for competence in the procedures, and require special training for familiarity with the "bottom-up" anatomy, procedural risks, and managing complex cases. These procedures have been models for structured education and training, using multimodal tools, to ensure safe implementation of TES and TaTME into clinical practice. The goal of this work was to review the current state of surgical education, the introduction and learning curve of the TES and TaTME procedures, and the established and future models for education of the transanal procedures for rectal cancer.

Robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery: a case series

INTRODUCTION

This study describes the experience with robot-assisted transanal minimally invasive surgery (rTAMIS) at a single institution. TAMIS has become a popular minimally invasive technique for local excision of well-selected rectal lesions. rTAMIS has been proposed as another option as it improves the ergonomics of conventional laparoscopic techniques.

METHODS

Retrospective case series of patients with rectal lesions who underwent rTAMIS. Patient demographics, final pathology, surgical and admission details, and clinical outcomes were recorded. Successful procedures were defined as having negative margins on final pathology.

RESULTS

A total of 16 patients underwent rTAMIS by a single surgeon between April 2018 and December 2019. Mean age of patients was 63 years. Final pathologies were negative for tumor (n = 4), tubulovillous adenoma (n = 4), tubulovillous adenoma with high-grade dysplasia (n = 4), and invasive rectal adenocarcinoma (n = 4). 43% were located in the middle rectum and 56% were located in the distal rectum. Mean maximum diameter was 4.1 cm (IQR 2-3.1 cm). Negative margins were seen in 100% of the excision cases, and 100% were intact. Mean operative time was 87 min (IQR 54.8-97.3 min), and median length of stay was 0 days (IQR 0-1 days). Postoperative complications included incontinence (n = 1) and abscess formation (n = 2). rTAMIS provided curative treatment for 12/16 patients, and the remaining 4 patients received the appropriate standard of care for their respective pathologies.

CONCLUSIONS

Robot-assisted TAMIS is a safe alternative to laparoscopic TAMIS for resection of appropriate rectal polyps and early rectal cancers. rTAMIS may provide a modality for resecting larger or more proximal rectal lesions due to the wristed instruments and superior visualization with the robotic camera. Future studies should focus on comparing outcomes between robotic and laparoscopic TAMIS, and whether rTAMIS allows for the removal of larger, more complex lesions, which may save patients from a more morbid radical proctectomy.

Clinical efficacy and quality of life after transrectal natural orifice specimen extraction for the treatment of middle and upper rectal cancer

Background

Laparoscopic anterior resection with natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) avoids extra abdominal extraction incision during colorectal surgery. Some surgeons realized the benefits of NOSE on clinical efficacy. We compared the clinical efficacy of laparoscopic NOSE, laparoscopic non-NOSE and open surgery (OS) for short-term recovery and quality of life (QoL).

Methods

A single randomized controlled trial of NOSE for middle and upper rectal cancer between April 2014 and February 2018. Preoperative and postoperative clinical variables were analyzed and compared between the groups. Preoperative and 6 months postoperative QoL was assessed with the SF-36 QoL questionnaire.

Results

A total of 378 patients were enrolled, 334 patients randomly divided into NOSE group (n=104), non-NOSE group (n=119), OS group (n=111). The NOSE group was superior to the other two groups on the QoL after surgery. The NOSE group had the lowest postoperative VAS score between three groups. The postoperative time for bowel function recovery and the length of hospital stay was statistically significantly different among the three groups, with the NOSE group having the shortest time. The incidence of postoperative complications was lower in the NOSE group (12/104, 11.5%) than in the non-NOSE group (20/119, 16.8%), the difference was statistically significant. The Kaplan-Meier (K-M) survival curve showed no statistically significant difference in the disease-free survival (DFS) rate between the three groups.

Conclusions

Comparing NOSE to non-NOSE and OS, the NOSE had significantly better functional recovery and better QoL. The NOSE group had a significant lower surgical complication rate than the non-NOSE group.

An evaluation of trans-anal rectoscopic-assisted minimally invasive surgery (ARAMIS): a new platform for transanal surgery

PURPOSE

The study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a new trans-anal rectoscopic-assisted minimally invasive surgery (ARAMIS) platform to treat rectal lesions.

METHODS

ARAMIS was first compared with two transanal minimally invasive surgery platforms (SILS Port and GelPOINT Path) on human cadavers. Surgeons with different experience performed running sutures at different distances, at four quadrants, using the three platforms and gave a score to visibility, safety, and maneuverability. ARAMIS was then utilized on patients affected with rectal neoplasia who met the inclusion criteria. Patients and tumor characteristic and results were prospectively collected. The follow-up examinations included proctoscopy at 3, 6, and 12 months.

RESULTS

According to surgeons' scores, ARAMIS improves visibility and safety with respect to other platforms for distances beyond 10 cm. The procedure, which lasted an average of 59 min, was successfully carried out in 14 patients. No intraoperative or postoperative complications were reported. The mean tumor size was 3 cm; they were located a mean of 11 cm from the anal verge. Complete removal of the lesion was possible in 13/14 patients. There was one case of adenoma recurrence at follow-up.

CONCLUSION

Study results showed that ARAMIS, which is equipped with an adjustable rectoscope, can be considered a safe, effective platform for transanal surgery. The rectoscope protects the rectum during the procedure, a particularly important consideration when proximal rectal lesions are being treated. Further clinical studies are warranted to confirm these encouraging results.

Transvaginal excision of rectal stromal tumors: case reports and a literature review

Background

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. Rectal locations are very rare, and minimally invasive surgery is a good choice for the treatment of rectal GISTs.

Case presentation

Two women each had a mass located on the lower vaginal-rectal space as determined by transvaginal ultrasound (TV-US), pelvis MR imaging, and colonoscopy. The patients successfully underwent transvaginal excision. The spindle-shaped cells were found in pathological test. The immunohistochemical analysis showed that CD117 and Dog-1 were stained positively. These results confirmed the masses as GISTs. The postoperative period was uneventful without anal dysfunction. Two patients were received adjuvant treatment with imatinib after surgery.

Conclusion

Transvaginal excision could be a minimally invasive and safe alternative treatment in the management of rectal GISTs in lower locations.

Neoadjuvant radiotherapy for rectal cancer management

Thirty per cent of all colorectal tumours develop in the rectum. The location of the rectum within the bony pelvis and its proximity to vital structures presents significant therapeutic challenges when considering neoadjuvant options and surgical interventions. Most patients with early rectal cancer can be adequately managed by surgery alone. However, a significant proportion of patients with rectal cancer present with locally advanced disease and will potentially benefit from down staging prior to surgery. Neoadjuvant therapy involves a variety of options including radiotherapy, chemotherapy used alone or in combination. Neoadjuvant radiotherapy in rectal cancer has been shown to be effective in reducing tumour burden in advance of curative surgery. The gold standard surgical rectal cancer management aims to achieve surgical removal of the tumour and all draining lymph nodes, within an intact mesorectal package, in order to minimise local recurrence. It is critically important that all rectal cancer cases are discussed at a multidisciplinary meeting represented by all relevant specialties. Pre-operative staging including CT thorax, abdomen, pelvis to assess for distal disease and magnetic resonance imaging to assess local involvement is essential. Staging radiology and MDT discussion are integral in identifying patients who require neoadjuvant radiotherapy. While Neoadjuvant radiotherapy is potentially beneficial it may also result in morbidity and thus should be reserved for those patients who are at a high risk of local failure, which includes patients with nodal involvement, extramural venous invasion and threatened circumferential margin. The aim of this review is to discuss the role of neoadjuvant radiotherapy in the management of rectal cancer.

Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for Local Excision of Benign and Malignant Rectal Neoplasia: Outcomes From 200 Consecutive Cases With Midterm Follow Up

OBJECTIVE

This study describes the outcomes for 200 consecutive transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) local excision (LE) for rectal neoplasia.

BACKGROUND

TAMIS is an advanced transanal platform that can result in high quality LE of rectal neoplasia.

METHODS

Consecutive patients from July 1, 2009 to December 31, 2015 from a prospective institutional registry were analyzed. Indication for TAMIS LE was endoscopically unresectable benign lesions or histologically favorable early rectal cancers. The primary endpoints were resection quality, neoplasia recurrence, and oncologic outcomes. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to describe disease-free survival (DFS) for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma that did not receive immediate salvage radical surgery.

RESULTS

There were 200 elective TAMIS LE procedures performed in 196 patients for 90 benign and 110 malignant lesions. Overall, a 7% margin positivity and 5% fragmentation rate was observed. The mean operative time for TAMIS was 69.5 minutes (SD 37.9). Postoperative morbidity was recorded in 11% of patients, with hemorrhage (9%), urinary retention (4%), and scrotal or subcutaneous emphysema (3%) being the most common. The mean follow up was 14.4 months (SD 17.4). Local recurrence occurred in 6%, and distant organ metastasis was noted in 2%. Mean time to local recurrence for malignancy was 16.9 months (SD 13.2). Cumulative DFS for patients with rectal adenocarcinoma was 96%, 93%, and 84% at 1-, 2-, and 3-years.

CONCLUSIONS

For carefully selected patients, TAMIS for local excision of rectal neoplasia is a valid option with low morbidity that maintains the advantages of organ preservation.

Cirugía mínimamente invasiva transanal (TAMIS): técnica y resultados de la experiencia inicial

Antecedentes: la cirugía transanal endoscópica es un abordaje mínimamente invasivo recientemente descrito, que provee una exposición superior y permite el acceso a las lesiones del recto en toda su extensión. Además, provee un riesgo menor de compromiso de los márgenes de resección, menores tasas de recurrencia y una menor morbimortalidad en comparación con la escisión transanal convencional o las remociones endoscópicas. Objetivos: se pretende describir la experiencia inicial y los resultados con la cirugía transanal mínimamente invasiva (transanal minimally invasive surgery, TAMIS) en términos de resecciones completas y posibles complicaciones relacionadas con el procedimiento. Materiales y métodos: esta una serie de casos con un seguimiento prospectivo de los pacientes con TAMIS. Se analizaron los resultados de 27 pacientes intervenidos en varios centros de Medellín, Colombia, entre enero de 2012 y diciembre de 2016, realizados con cirugía laparoscópica monopuerto (single-port laparoscopic surgery, SILS) (21 casos) o el GelPOINT® Path (6 casos), junto con el apoyo de la óptica del laparoscopio (16 pacientes) y del endoscopio flexible (11 pacientes). Resultados: se realizaron 27 TAMIS en el mismo número de pacientes, 10 mujeres (37 %) y 17 hombres fueron evaluados. Se realizó un seguimiento a los pacientes durante aproximadamente 12 meses, en promedio 32 meses. La edad promedio fue de 68 años (52-83 años). El tamaño promedio del tumor fue de 5,3 cm (2-9 cm) y la distancia promedio desde el margen anal fue de 7 cm (5-9 cm) Las complicaciones posoperatorias se dieron en 6 casos (22 %) Una perforación rectal se corrigió por vía laparoscópica en el mismo acto quirúrgico y otra por la misma vía transanal. Una estenosis rectal se manejó con dilatación digital, y hubo un caso de sangrado rectal menor, uno de retención urinaria y un paciente presentó un cáncer rectal avanzado a los tres meses de la resección con margen microscópico positivo (4 %). No hubo reingresos. La mortalidad por la intervención fue nula. La patología operatoria reportó la presencia de adenoma de bajo grado en 3 casos (11 %), de alto grado en 11 (41 %), adenocarcinoma in situ en 6 (22 %), tumor neuroendocrino en 5 pacientes (18 %), 1 caso de fibrosis cicatricial (4 %) y 1 de leiomioma (4 %). Limitaciones: los resultados no son extrapolables a la población general debido al poco número de intervenciones y la ejecución limitada a solo dos autores. Conclusiones: en nuestra experiencia inicial, TAMIS es un procedimiento mínimamente invasivo con una baja morbilidad posoperatoria, es curativa para lesiones benignas y para pacientes seleccionados con cáncer temprano.

Robotic Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery for the Excision of Rectal Neoplasia: Clinical Experience With 58 Consecutive Patients

BACKGROUND

Given the significant perioperative risks and costs of total mesorectal excision, minimally invasive transanal surgical approaches have grown in popularity for early rectal cancer and rectal polyps. This article discusses a transanal robotic surgery technique to perform full-thickness resections of benign and malignant rectal neoplasms.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to describe an initial experience with robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery.

DESIGN

This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery.

SETTINGS

The study was conducted at a high-volume colorectal surgery practice with a large health maintenance organization.

PATIENTS

Patients at Southern California Kaiser Permanente with early rectal cancer and rectal polyps amenable to transanal excision were included.

INTERVENTIONS

Transanal resection of rectal tumors were removed using robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Local recurrence of rectal pathology was measured.

RESULTS

A total of 58 patients underwent robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery with full-thickness rectal resection by 4 surgeons for the following indications: rectal cancer (n = 28), rectal polyp (n = 18), rectal carcinoid (n = 11), and rectal GI stromal tumor (n = 1). Mean operative time was 66.2 minutes (range, 17-180 min). The mean tumor height from the anal verge was 8.8 cm (range, 4-14 cm), and the mean specimen size was 3.3 cm (range, 1.3-8.2 cm). A total of 57 (98.3%) of 58 specimens were intact, and 55 (94.8%) of 58 specimens had negative surgical margins. At a mean follow-up of 11.5 months (range, 0.3-33.3 mo), 3 patients (5.5%) developed local recurrences, and all underwent successful salvage surgery.

LIMITATIONS

The study was limited by being a retrospective, nonrandomized trial with short follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery is a safe, oncologically effective surgical approach for rectal polyps and early rectal cancers. It offers the oncologic benefits and perioperative complication profile of other transanal minimally invasive surgical approaches but also enhances surgeon ergonomics and provides an efficient transanal rectal platform. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A759.

Laparoscopic transanal minimally invasive surgery (L-TAMIS) versus robotic TAMIS (R-TAMIS): short-term outcomes and costs of a comparative study

BACKGROUND

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) has gained worldwide popularity as a method for the local excision of rectal neoplasms. However, it is technically demanding due to limited working space. Robotic TAMIS offers potential enhanced dexterity and ability while allowing for a more aggressive resection with a stable platform. The objective of this study was to review a single institution experience between laparoscopic (L-TAMIS) and robotic TAMIS (R-TAMIS) for treatment of rectal neoplasms and determine if there are significant differences on outcomes.

METHODS

Forty consecutive patients with rectal neoplasms underwent L-TAMIS or R-TAMIS by two colorectal surgeons from January 2012 to April 2017. We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively maintained database to analyze demographics, peri-operative data, pathology, post-operative complications, and cost.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between L- and R-TAMIS on patient demographics. R-TAMIS showed a statically significant increase in cost of surgery by $880. Median direct cost of L-TAMIS was $3562 compared to $4440.92 for R-TAMIS (p = 0.04). Wider range of total duration for L-TAMIS is likely due to the variability of body habitus and location of rectal neoplasm, which can significantly limit L-TAMIS compare to R-TAMIS. There was a trend toward decreased blood loss in the R-TAMIS group. Mortality was 0% in both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

After reviewing our experience, we conclude there is no significant difference between L- and R-TAMIS other than total direct cost. We confirmed that both L- and R-TAMIS are safe and associated with low morbidity. The limitations of this study include its small sample size. In the future, we hope to show promising data on R-TAMIS with increased sample size and experience, which may allow for transanal resection not previously feasible. Studies with long-term follow-up assessing oncological and functional results will be mandatory.

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery as day surgery - a single-centre experience with 500 patients

AIM

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is the current treatment of choice for rectal adenomas and early rectal cancer. Postoperative admission to hospital is common but possibly unnecessary. Our objective was to analyse predictors and outcomes of TEM patients having same day discharge (TEM-D) compared with those who were admitted to hospital (TEM-A).

METHOD

At St Paul's Hospital (SPH), demographic, surgical, pathological and follow-up data have been collected prospectively since TEM was started in 2007. Trends in admission and readmission rates were analysed using the Cochran-Armitage trend test, and predictors of admission were analysed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions.

RESULTS

Between 2007 and 2016, 500 patients were treated by TEM at SPH. The overall admission rate was 29% (145/500), but this decreased to 19% in the last 3 years of the study (P < 0.001). The readmission rate was 5.2% (n = 26/500) and did not change significantly over the study period (P = 0.30). Reasons for admission included the following: surgeon discretion/monitoring (35%), urinary retention (26%), haemorrhage (10%), breach of peritoneal cavity (7%), infection (7%) and other (15%). The most common reasons for readmission were haemorrhage (54%, n = 14), pain (19%, n = 5) and infection (12%, n = 3). Factors associated with admission were as follows: tumour height (OR 1.09, 1.02-1.17), prolonged operative time (OR 1.25, 1.14-1.37), unsutured surgical defect (OR 1.99, 1.22-3.25) and surgeon experience (OR 4.62, 2.75-7.77).

CONCLUSION

Outpatient TEM is safe and carries a low risk of readmission. In centres with an outpatient TEM strategy, predictors of hospital admission include proximal tumours, prolonged surgical time and open management of the surgical defect.

Management of a case of high-risk gastrointestinal stromal tumor in rectum by transanal minimal invasive surgery

BACKGROUND

Rectal gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a very rare tumor of gastrointestinal tract. Surgical management of rectal GIST requires special attention for preserving of anal and urinary functions. Transanal minimal invasive surgery (TAMIS) is a well-developed minimally invasive technique for local excision of benign and early malignant rectal tumors; however, the application of TAMIS for rectal GIST is rarely and inadequately reported. We report the novel application of TAMIS for rectal GIST with considerations for anal and urinary functions.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 67 years old female, who presented with history of per rectal bleeding, was diagnosed with submucosal GIST of 4.5 cm in diameter at right posterior wall of 7 cm from anal verge. Histology of biopsy showed abundant spindle-shaped cells arranged in bundles that were positive for CD34 and negative for C-Kit, desmin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and S-100. The tumor was excised by TAMIS successfully. Final histopathology showed pT2 tumor with C-Kit positive and mitosis count 10 per 50 HPF. Postoperative period was uneventful, and she was discharged on adjuvant imatinib mesylate for 3 years.

CONCLUSION

TAMIS can be used safely in the management of rectal GIST after appropriate evaluation of tumor size, extent, location, and experience of operating surgeon.

Local excision for rectal cancer: a minimally invasive option

Transanal excision (TAE) with conventional retractors and transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) are two well established minimally invasive surgical options for the treatment of selected rectal cancers. TEM is nowadays considered the standard of care for the transanal excision of rectal tumors, since it is associated with significantly better quality of excision and lower rates of recurrence than TAE. When compared with rectal resection and total mesorectal excision, TEM has lower postoperative morbidity and better functional outcomes, with similar long-term survival rates in selected early rectal cancers. More recently, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) has been developed as an alternative to TEM. Possible benefits of TAMIS are under evaluation.

Rectal Trauma: Evidence-Based Practices

The management of rectal trauma has often been lumped in with colon trauma when, in fact, it is a unique entity. The anatomic nature of the rectum (with its intra- and extraperitoneal segments) lends itself to unique circumstances when it comes to management and treatment. From the four Ds (debridement, drainage, diversion, and distal irrigation), the management of rectal trauma has made some strides in light of the experiences coming out of the recent conflicts overseas as well as some rethinking of dogma. This article will serve to review the anatomy and types of injuries associated with rectal trauma. A treatment algorithm will also be presented based on our current literature review. We will also address controversial points and attempt to give our opinion in an effort to provide an update on an age-old problem.

Transanal minimally invasive surgery for benign large rectal polyps and early malignant rectal cancers: experience and outcomes from the first Canadian centre to adopt the technique

BACKGROUND

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) has emerged as a relatively new technique in treating early cancer and benign lesion of the rectum. The technique is likely to be widely adopted, surpassing other comparable techniques owing to its simple setup and cost-effectiveness. We assessed the outcomes of TAMIS at our centre.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed prospectively collected data on 50 patients who underwent TAMIS for benign, malignant T1 or T2 cancers that were unfit for radical surgery over a 4-year period. Outcomes, including 30-day complications and recurrence, as well as our ability to implement and integrate this technique at our centre were assessed.

RESULTS

All 50 TAMIS procedures were successful. The average lesion was 7 cm from the anal verge, the average tumour size was 2.5 cm, the average duration of surgery was 73 minutes, the average length of stay was 1.1 days, and the margin negativity was 84%. Major indications in our series included 25 lesions that were too large for endoscopic resection, 14 early cancers or high-grade dysplasia, 10 margin checks postpolypectomy, 6 cases of recurrent polyposis, and 4 medically unfit patients. There were no deaths. The rate of short-term complications, including rectal bleeding, reoperation and urinary retention, was 16%. The rate of long-term complications, including anal incontinence and stenosis, was 4%. Benign and malignant recurrence rates were 2% and 6%, respectively. Overall long-term requirement for invasive procedures, low anterior resection or abdominoperineal resection, was 12%.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, this is the first Canadian study showing TAMIS to be an efficient and safe procedure for the treatment of well-selected patients with rectal lesions. Outcomes from our centre are comparable with those found in the literature.

Establishing the learning curve of transanal minimally invasive surgery for local excision of rectal neoplasms

INTRODUCTION

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is an endoscopic operating platform for local excision of rectal neoplasms. However, it may be technically demanding, and its learning curve has yet to be adequately defined. The objective of this study was to determine the number of TAMIS procedures for the local excision of rectal neoplasm required to reach proficiency.

METHODS AND PROCEDURES

All TAMIS cases performed from 07/2009 to 12/2016 at a single high-volume tertiary care institution for local excision of benign and malignant rectal neoplasia were identified from a prospective database. A cumulative summation (CUSUM) analysis was performed to determine the number of cases required to reach proficiency. The main proficiency outcome was rate of margin positivity (R1 resection). The acceptable and unacceptable R1 rates were defined as the R1 rate of transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM-10%) and traditional transanal excision (TAE-26%), which was obtained from previously published meta-analyses. Comparisons of patient, tumor, and operative characteristics before and after TAMIS proficiency were performed.

RESULTS

A total of 254 TAMIS procedures were included in this study. The overall R1 resection rate was 7%. The indication for TAMIS was malignancy in 57%. CUSUM analysis reported that TAMIS reached an acceptable R1 rate between 14 and 24 cases. Moving average plots also showed that the mean operative times stabilized by proficiency gain. The mean lesion size was larger after proficiency gain (3.0 cm (SD 1.5) vs. 2.3 cm (SD 1.3), p = 0.008). All other patient, tumor, and operative characteristics were similar before and after proficiency gain.

CONCLUSIONS

TAMIS for local excision of rectal neoplasms is a complex procedure that requires a minimum of 14-24 cases to reach an acceptable R1 resection rate and lower operative duration.

Local Excision of Rectal Cancer

Local excision (LE) of early-stage rectal cancer avoids the morbidity associated with radical surgery but has historically been associated with inferior oncologic outcomes. Newer techniques, including transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) and transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS), have been developed to improve the quality of LE and extend the benefits of LE to tumors in the more proximal rectum. This article provides an overview of conventional LE, TEM, and TAMIS techniques, including indications for their use and pertinent literature on their associated outcomes for rectal cancer.

Recent advances in the management of rectal cancer: No surgery, minimal surgery or minimally invasive surgery

Over the last decade, with the acceptance of the need for improvements in the outcome of patients affected with rectal cancer, there has been a significant increase in the literature regarding treatment options available to patients affected by this disease. That treatment related decisions should be made at a high volume multidisciplinary tumor board, after pre-operative rectal magnetic resonance imaging and the importance of total mesorectal excision (TME) are accepted standard of care. More controversial is the emerging role for watchful waiting rather than radical surgery in complete pathologic responders, which may be appropriate in 20% of patients. Patients with early T1 rectal cancers and favorable pathologic features can be cured with local excision only, with transanal minimal invasive surgery (TAMIS) because of its versatility and almost universal availability of the necessary equipment and skillset in the average laparoscopic surgeon, emerging as the leading option. Recent trials have raised concerns about the oncologic outcomes of the standard “top-down” TME hence transanal TME (TaTME “bottom-up”) approach has gained popularity as an alternative. The challenges are many, with a dearth of evidence of the oncologic superiority in the long-term for any given option. However, this review highlights recent advances in the role of chemoradiation only for complete pathologic responders, TAMIS for highly selected early rectal cancer patients and TaTME as options to improve cure rates whilst maintaining quality of life in these patients, while we await the results of further definitive trials being currently conducted.

Indications and Outcomes From 32 Consecutive Patients for the Treatment of Rectal Lesions by Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, perioperative morbidity, and short-term outcomes of the transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) technique.

METHODS

This is a descriptive review of prospectively collected data from 32 consecutive patients who underwent TAMIS procedures in our colorectal unit over a 40-month period. GelPOINT Path port was used in all cases. Demographic data, indications, tumor characteristics, morbidity, and follow-up data were collected. Primary endpoints included feasibility, safety, perioperative morbidity, and resection quality.

RESULTS

Fifteen adenomas, 12 carcinomas, 1 gastrointestinal stromal tumor, and 1 neuroendocrine tumor were locally excised. Additionally, 3 pelvic abscesses were drained transanally using the TAMIS port. Mean distance from the anal verge was 5.6 ± 1.5 cm. Early postoperative complications occurred in 22%, with only one case of major complication (3.1%) requiring reoperation, and no postoperative mortality. Four carcinomas were understaged (33.3%) and 1 adenoma overstaged (6.7%) preoperatively. Three carcinomas were not suspected preoperatively (25%). Microscopic positive lateral margin was found in one case, and no affected deep margin was found. Fragmentation rate was 6.9%, 2 cases, both lesions over 20 cm². In cases of fit patients with high-risk carcinomas, 2 underwent immediate salvage surgery and another 2 refused and were treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. With a median follow-up of 26 months, the overall recurrence rate was 10.3%, 1 adenoma and 2 carcinomas.

CONCLUSION

TAMIS seems to be a safe and reproducible procedure for local excision of well-selected rectal lesions with low morbidity and good functional outcomes.

A combination of transanal minimally invasive surgery and transanal technique to facilitate suturing during transanal minimally invasive surgery

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is an effective option for the local excision of benign, non-invasive rectal lesions, or selected early stage rectal cancers. However, the suturing encountered in TAMIS remains technically challenging. A combination of TAMIS and transanal approach to suturing is demonstrated to address this challenge. A 64-year-old female with a T1N0 adenocarcinoma located in the anterior mid-rectum underwent TAMIS for resection of the lesion. Total operative time was 91 minutes. Free peritoneal defect was closed in two layers. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 1. Final pathology revealed a 0.7 cm T1 well-differentiated adenocarcinoma 0.8 cm from the closest resection margin. The patient remains free of systemic or local recurrence at 24 months. TAMIS is a safe and effective option for removal of benign rectal lesions or selected low grade T1 adenocarcinomas of the rectum. A hybrid TAMIS and transanal approach to suturing may often easily address the technical challenge of pure laparoscopic suturing in TAMIS.

Stereotactic navigation for TAMIS-TME

Stereotactic navigation allows for real-time, image-guided surgery, thus providing an augmented working environment for the operator. This technique can be applied to complex minimally invasive surgery for fixed anatomic targets. Transanal minimally invasive surgery represents a new approach to rectal cancer surgery that is technically demanding and introduces the potential for procedure-specific morbidity. Feasibility of stereotactic navigation for TAMIS-TME has been demonstrated, and this could theoretically translate into improved resection quality by improving the surgeon's spatial awareness. The future of minimally invasive surgery as it relates to augmented reality and image-guided surgery is discussed.