title: Benign rectal strictures managed with transanal resection--a novel application for transanal endoscopic microsurgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Six cases of management of rectal strictures by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) are described.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients are placed in the lithotomy - Trendelenburg position and the stricture is resected from 4-8 o'clock through the entire thickness of the fibrosis. The upper resection edge is mobilized including all layers of the rectal wall and the defect is sutured along the circumference.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory anatomical and functional long-term results were obtained in 5 of 6 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TEM resection of benign strictures is feasible in some patients and should be tested in a randomized study against known procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. gunnar.baatrup@helse-bergen.no
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Baatrup
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Svensen
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Ellensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011351:Proctoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D012002:Rectal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*