TAMIS resection for rectal tumors

Abstract

Background: resection of benign and early malignant lesions of the rectum are a challenge to reduce local recurrence, and to achieve adequate rectal resection, specimens without fragmentation and low morbimortality. Since neither the transanal, conventional nor the endoscopic approaches ensure the desired results, transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) may ariseas a feasible option.
Objetive: to describe results, feasibility and safety of an initial series of TAMIS performed in a cooperative group including several provinces of Argentina.
Material and methods: a cases series performed between 2015 and 2017. Fourteen patients were operated on by TAMIS for low rectal lesions. Demographics, type of lesion, surgical technique, postoperative morbidity and histologic results were analyzed.
Results: nine men and 5 women were included (average age, 56 years). The size of the lesions ranged between 5 and 15 cm from the anal margin. Morbidity was 7.6%, without mortality. Hospital stay was of 24 hours. Resection specimens were complete and showed tumor free margins in 92% of cases.
Conclusion: TAMIS was both effective and feasible to achieve local resection for rectal lesions. The technique was safe. Advantages due to minimally invasive surgery were present as well.