Transanal minimally-invasive surgery (TAMIS): experience with no closure of the rectal defect

Background: In transanalminimally-invasive surgery (TAMIS), the closure of the rectal defect is controversial, and endoluminal suture is one of the most challenging aspects. The goal of the present study is to evaluate the short- andmedium-term complications of a consecutive series of patients with extraperitoneal rectal injuries who underwent TAMIS without closure of the rectal defect. Materials and Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study conducted between August 2013 and July 2019 in which all patients with extraperitoneal rectal lesions, who were operated on using the TAMIS technique, were consecutively included. The lesions were: benign lesions ≥ 3 cm; neuroendocrine tumors ≤ 2 cm; adenocarcinomas in stage T1N0; and adenocarcinomas in stage T2N0, with high surgical risk, or with the patients reluctant to undergo radical surgery, and others with doubts about complete remission after the neoadjuvant therapy. Bleeding, infectious complications, rectal stenosis, perforations, and death were evaluated. Results: A total of 35 patients were treated using TAMIS without closure of the defect. The average size of the lesionswas of 3.68±2.1 cm(95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 0.7cmto 9 cm), their average distance from the anal margin was of 5.7±1.48cm, and the average operative time was of 39.2±20.5 minutes, with a minimum postoperative follow-up of 1 year. As for the pathologies, they were: 15 adenomas; 3 carcinoid tumors; and 17 adenocarcinomas. In all cases, the rectal defect was left open. The overall morbidity was of 14.2%. Two patients (grade II in the Clavien-Dindo classification) were readmitted for pain treatment, and three patients (grade III in the Clavien-Dindo classification) were assisted due to postoperative bleeding, one of whom required reoperation. Conclusion: The TAMIS technique without closure of the rectal defect yields good results, and present a high feasibility and low complication rate. (AU)

Robotic transanal surgery: initial experience in a developing country / Cirugía robótica transanal: experiencia inicial en un país en vías de desarrollo

Background: Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is a surgical technique used for the excision of rectal neoplasia that gained popularity during the last decade. Due to the technical difficulty (non-articulated instruments, reduced workspace) and the long learning curve associated with this technique, the use of robotic platforms to improve resection results has been suggested and reported, at the same time that the learning curve decreases and the procedure is facilitated. Materials and Methods: From March 2017 to December 2019, all patients with rectal lesions eligible for TAMIS were offered the possibility to receive a robotic TAMIS (RTAMIS). We used a transanal GelPoint Path (Applied Medical Inc., Santa Margarita, CA, USA) in the anal canal to be able to do the Da Vinci Si (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) robotic platform docking, which we used to perform the excision of the rectal lesion as well as the resection site defect. Results: Five patients between 34 and 79 years of age underwent R-TAMIS. The mean distance to the anal verge was 8.8 cm. There were no conversions. The mean surgery time was 85 minutes, and the mean docking time was 6.6minutes. Conclusions: Robotic TAMIS is a feasible alternative to TAMIS, with a faster learning curve for experienced surgeons in transanal surgery and better ergonomics. Further studies are needed to assess the cost-benefit relationship. (AU)

Introdução: A cirurgia transanal minimamente invasiva (TAMIS, na sigla em inglês) é uma técnica que se tornou popular na última década para a excisão local de neoplasias no reto. Devido à dificuldade técnica (instrumentos não articulados, espaço de trabalho reduzido) e à longa curva de aprendizado representada por essa técnica, o uso de plataformas robóticas para melhorar os resultados da ressecção tem sido sugerido e relatado, aomesmo tempo emque a curva de aprendizado diminui e o procedimento é facilitado. Materiais e Métodos: De março de 2017 a dezembro de 2019, foi oferecida aos pacientes comlesões retais candidatos aoTAMIS a possibilidade de ressecção transanal robótica (R-TAMIS). Foi utilizada uma porta de acesso transanal GelPoint Path (Applied Medical Inc. Santa Margarita, CA, EUA), que foi introduzida no canal anal para posteriormente criar pneumoperitônio e realizar o acoplamento do sistema robótico Da Vinci Si (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, EUA) para realizar a ressecção e o fechamento do defeito por robótica. Resultados: Cinco pacientes entre 79 e 34 anos foram submetidos à R-TAMIS. A distânciamédia àmargemanal foi de 8,8 cm. Não houve conversões. O tempo cirúrgico médio foi de 85 minutos, e o tempo médio de acoplamento foi de 6,6 minutos. Conclusões: A R-TAMIS é uma alternativa à TAMIS convencional, com menor curva de aprendizado para cirurgiões experientes em cirurgia transanalminimamente invasiva e melhor ergonomia para ressecção e fechamento. Outros estudos são necessários para avaliar a relação custo-benefício. (AU)

Tansanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME): systematization and mediated results in 10 patients / Excisão total do mesorreto por via transanal (TaTME): sistematização e resultados mediatos em dez pacientes

Abstract Background: Transanal total mesorectal excision is a surgical technique for minimally invasive resection of the rectum and perirectal tissues. It is indicated for patients with medial and distal rectum cancer confined to the mesorectal envelope. This study describes a series of patients undergoing transanal total mesorectal excision. Methods: Ten patients were selected to undergo transanal total mesorectal excision using the SILS-Port® platform. All patients included here had middle or low rectal cancer. Abdominal access for proximal colon mobilization was performed by laparoscopy in all cases. As a rule, in 9 of the 10 cases, the surgical specimen was removed transanally. Result:s During a 41-month period, 10 patients underwent transanal total mesorectal excision based on curative intent. The first indication for transanal total mesorectum excision was medial and distal rectal cancer, locally invasive and confined to the mesortal envelope. The median age of patients with rectal cancer at the time of surgery was 61 years (mean 59.4 years, range 22-78 years), with 80% (8) female and 20% (2) male. The median surgical time was 305' (mean 314', range 260-420'). The median postoperative length of stay was five days (average of 7.3 days, interval of 3-23 days). There was no postoperative mortality. Surgical complications included postoperative ileus (n = 1), bladder paresis (n = 1), and ileostomy stenosis (n = 1). All patients had negative surgical margins for neoplasia and more than 12 resected lymph nodes. The tumors were between 1 and 9 cm from the anal margin. Conclusion: Total transanal mesorectal excision has been shown to be a viable method for oncologic resection of locally advanced rectal cancer with curative intent.

Resumo Contexto: A excisão total do mesorreto por via transanal é uma aborgadem crânio-caudal para a realização de ressecção minimamente invasiva do reto e tecidos perirretais em monobloco. É adequada para pacientes com câncer de reto médio e distal confinados ao envelope mesorretal. Aqui relatamos uma série de pacientes submetidos à excisão total do mesorreto por via transanal. Métodos: Dez pacientes foram selecionados para serem submetidos à excisão total do mesorreto por via transanal utilizando a plataforma SILS-Port®. Todos os pacientes eram portadores de câncer retal de localização extraperitoneal. O acesso abdominal para mobilização do cólon proximal, em todos os casos, foi realizado por laparoscopia. Como regra, a retirada do espécime cirúrgico, em nove casos, ocorreu por via transanal. Resultados: Durante um período de 41 meses, 10 pacientes foram submetidos à excisão total do mesorreto por via transanal com intenção curativa. A indicação primária para excisão total do mesorreto transanal foi o câncer de reto médio e distal, localmente invasor, mas confinado ao envelope mesorretal. A mediana de idade dos pacientes com câncer de reto no momento da cirurgia foi de 61 anos (média de 59,4 anos, faixa de 22-78 anos), sendo 80% (8) do sexo feminino e 20% (2) do sexo masculino. A mediana do tempo cirúrgico foi de 305' (média de 314', intervalo de 260-420'). A mediana do tempo de permanência pós-operatória foi de cinco dias (média de 7,3 dias, intervalo de 3-23 dias). Não houve mortalidade pós-operatória. As complicações cirúrgicas incluíram íleo paralítico (n = 1), paresia vesical (n = 1) e estenose de ileostomia (n = 1). Todos os pacientes tiveram margens cirúrgicas negativas para neoplasia e mais de 12 linfonodos ressecados. Os tumores distavam de 1 a 9 cm da margem anal. Conclusão: A excisão total do mesorreto transanal demonstrou-se um método viável para a ressecção oncológica de câncer de reto localmente avançado com intenção curativa.

Cirugía mínimamente invasiva transanal (TAMIS): técnica y resultados de la experiencia inicial / Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS): technique and results of initial experience

Resumen 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.

Abstract Background: Transanal endoscopic surgery, a recently described minimally invasive approach, provides superior exposure and access to the entirety of rectal lesions and has lower risks of compromising resection margins, lower recurrence rates and lower morbidity and mortality than do conventional transanal excision and endoscopic removals. Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe our initial experience and with minimally invasive transanal surgery (TAMIS) and its results in terms of complete resections and complications possibly related to the procedure. Materials and methods: This is a series of TAMIS cases with prospective follow-ups. We analyzed the results of 27 patients who underwent the procedure at several centers in Medellín, Colombia, between January 2012 and December 2016. Twenty patients had Single Incision Laparoscopic Surgery while the GelPOINT path transanal access platform was used for the other six patients. Laparoscope optics provide support for 16 procedures while the more recently introduced flexible endoscope supported eleven procedures. Results: Twenty-seven TAMIS procedures were performed and evaluated. Ten patients were women (37%), and 17 were men. On average, patients were followed up for 32 months, but none less than 12 months. Average patient age was 68 years (52 to 83 years). The average tumor size was 5.3 cm (2 to 9 cm) and the average distance from the anal margin was 7 cm (5 to 9 cm). Postoperative complications occurred in six cases (22%). In one case, a rectal perforation was corrected laparoscopically during the procedure. Another perforation was corrected by the same transanal route. A rectal stenosis was managed with digital dilatation, there was one case of minor rectal bleeding, one case of urinary retention and one patient developed advanced rectal cancer with a positive microscopic margin (4%) three months after resection. There were no readmissions. There were no deaths due to the intervention. Pathology reported low grade adenomas in three cases (11%), high grade adenomas in 11 cases (41%), in-situ adenocarcinoma in six cases (22%), neuroendocrine tumors in five cases (19%), and one case each of cicatricial fibrosis (4%) and leiomyoma (4%). Limitations: The results cannot be extrapolated to the general population because of the limited number of interventions and performance of procedures by only two authors. Conclusions: Our initial experience shows TAMIS to be a minimally invasive procedure with low postoperative morbidity which is curative for benign lesions and for selected patients with early cancer.

Transanal lateral lymph node dissection surgery for 5 cases of mid-low rectal cancer / 中华胃肠外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the feasibility and safety of transanal lateral lymph node dissection for mid-low rectal cancer.@*Methods@#A descriptive case series research method was used. Clinical and pathological data of 5 mid-low rectal cancer patients who underwent transanal lateral lymph node dissection at Department of Colorectal Surgery, the Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University from November 2018 to May 2019 were retrospectively collected and analyzed. Of 5 cases, 4 were male and 1 was female with mean age of (43.2±13.2) years and mean body mass index of (21.2±2.6) kg/m2; the mean diameter of tumor was (3.2±2.4) cm; the mean distance between tumor and anus was (6.3±2.5) cm; 3 received preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy. In preoperative TNM staging, 2 cases were T3N1M0, 1 was T3cN2aM0, 1 was T3cN2bM0, and 1 was T2N1M0. All the patients had no intestinal obstruction before operation. Surgical methods: (1) total mesorectal excision: using general transanal and transabdominal methods to mobilize and resect total mesorectum, and dissect No.252, No.253 lymph nodes; (2) transanal lateral lymph node dissection: dissect the adipose lymphoid tissue on the surface of the iliococcygeal muscle, the coccygeal muscle, and the obturator muscle (the No.283 lymph nodes) upward, and dissect No.263d and No.263p lymph nodes with fat tissue sequentially till the bifurcation of the internal and external iliac artery; (3) take out the specimen from anus, and make anastomosis between proximal colon and anal canal. Intraoperative and postoperative variables was observed.@*Results@#All the 5 patients completed surgery successfully, and no patient needed to convert to open approach. The mean operative time was (295.6±97.7) minutes, and the median intraoperative blood loss was 70 (50-500) ml. The mean length of specimen was (12.9±3.0) cm, and the mean number of harvested lymph node was 30.4±9.9. The positive lateral lymph nodes were founder in 4 patients. The median distance between tumor and distal resection margin was 1.5 (1.2-8.0) cm. The resection margin in all the patients was negative. The mean time to postoperative flatus was (4.2±1.6) days, the mean postoperative spontaneous urination was (3.0±1.9) days, time to drainage tube removal was (5.6±1.9) days, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was (9.4±2.1) days. The postoperative TNM staging by pathology was 1 case with T1N0M0, 1 with T2N1M0, 1 with T3N2bM0, and 2 with T3N2M0. Five patients were moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. Only 1 patient developed postoperative abdominal bleeding, who was healed after conservative treatment. The other 4 patients did not develop any perioperative complications, such as incision infection, presacral abscess, pelvic abscess, anastomotic leakage, or anastomotic stricture. Four patients underwent postoperative chemotherapy. All the patients were followed up for 2 to 28 weeks after surgery and they all felt well. The patients with stoma had fluent bowel.@*Conclusions@#Transanal lateral lymph node dissection is feasible and safe in the treatment of mid-low rectal cancer, which can achieve the purpose of extended radical resection of mid-low movement rectal cancer. Moreover, this procedure is a new method to treat rectal cancer patients with lateral lymph node metastasis.

Resección transanal de un adenoma velloso rectal a través de un trocar monopuerto / Excision of a rectal villous adenoma using a transanal single port trocar

Single port access for minimally invasive surgery is feasible nowadays. We report a 55 years old female presenting with hematochezia. During a colonoscopy, a villous adenoma of 2 cm in diameter located 5 cm above the anal margin, was found. This lesion was excised through the anus, using a single port trocar. The procedure lasted 45 minutes, the postoperative evolution was uneventful and the patient was discharged 24 hours after the procedure.

Posterior al advenimiento de la cirugía laparoscópica colorrectal, desde comienzos de la década de los 90, se han desarrollado diversos tipos de accesos minimamente invasivos, siendo hoy en día el acceso por un puerto único una alternativa factible. Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente de 55 años, a la cual por sintomatología se le diagnóstica una lesión rectal, la que luego de ser estudiada endoscópica y endosonográficamente, es resecada por monopuerto via anal. La cirugía duró 45 minutos y no presentó eventos adversos intraoperatorios. Su evolución quirúrgica fue satisfactoria con alta hospitalaria al día siguiente de la cirugía.

Uso del dispositivo SILS™ en cirugía transanal mínimamente invasiva para el manejo de lesiones benignas de recto / Using the device SILS ™ Transanal minimally invasive surgery for the management of benign rectal

Minimally invasive transanal microsurgery was described in 2009. It allows the excision polyps or small malignant lesions. We report a 73 years old female consulting for hematochezia. A sessile polyp located 9 cm above the anal margin was discovered during a colonoscopy that corresponded to a villous adenoma. The polyp was excised transanally, using a SILS* port for transanal endoscopic microsurgery.

La cirugía transanal mínimamente invasiva fue descrita inicialmente en el año 2009 como un abordaje híbrido para lograr la resección endoluminal de lesiones rectales, surgiendo como una alternativa más económica al uso del TEM (Transanal endoscopic microsurgery). La resección transanal de pólipos, así como de pequeñas lesiones malignas rectales con instrumentos laparoscópicos y de puerto único, utiliza la tecnología desarrollada inicialmente para procedimientos desde un orificio natural como es el recto. Nuestra intención es presentar la técnica quirúrgica, así como su aplicación en la resección de lesiones benignas como malignas del recto no realizables a través de una resección transanal convencional.