Transanal endoscopic surgery for rectal tumors.
OBJECTIVE
To report our results with local excision by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) to treat 42 cases of rectal lesions (29 adenomas and 13 carcinomas).


METHODS
Prospective, descriptive study. Sex distribution: 55% men, 45% women, mean age 65 years (range: 17-84 years).


METHODS
rectal bleeding 67%, diarrhea 23%.


METHODS
mucosectomy 6 cases, full-thickness excision 36 cases. Average follow-up: 11 months (range: 1-36 months).


RESULTS
We analyzed operating time (average 85 min; range: 25-180 min), bleeding (average 100 ml, range 10-350 ml), distance of the tumor from the anal verge (lower tumor margin: mean, 8.8 cm; range, 1-20 cm; distal tumor margin: mean, 12.9 cm; range, 5-22 cm), tumor size (mean, 3.9 cm; range, 2-10 cm), postoperative hospital stay (average, 4 days; range, 2-15 days), morbidity (hemorrhage 1 case; perforation, 1 case), mortality (0) and follow-up (temporary incontinence to flatus in 6 cases, 1 recurrence of carcinoma treated with abdominoperineal resection, 2 recurrences of adenoma and 2 new adenomas).


CONCLUSIONS
TEM is a safe technique for the treatment of rectal lesions. Low morbidity and recurrence rates and short hospital stays make TEM a procedure of choice when local rectal surgery is indicated.
Arribas del Amo
D
D
Department of Surgery B, University of Zaragoza Hospital, Spain.
Ramírez Rodríguez
J M
JM
Aguilella Diago
V
V
Elía Guedea
M
M
Palacios Fanlo
M J
MJ
Martínez Díez
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011351:Proctoscopy; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*