Complications following transanal endoscopic microsurgery.
Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery (TEM) was clinically introduced by Buess et al. In 1983 for the
removal of adenomas from the rectal cavity. Later, the indications were extended to the excision of pT1
low-risk carcinomas in curative and to tumors in higher stages in palliative intent. Training courses
for this method have been conducted since 1985 and several hundred surgeons have been taught this procedure
in Germany and other countries. Because TEM is gaining international recognition it is worthwhile to
review the complications of the method.
Buess
G
G
Eberhard-Karls University, Tübingen, Germany.