Transanal total mesorectal excision for rectal carcinoma: short-term outcomes and experience after 80 cases.
BACKGROUND
Low anterior resection for distal and mid-rectal cancer is associated with high positive resection margins. Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) is a new treatment in which the rectum is dissected transanally according to TME principles. The short-term results and oncological follow-up of the first 80 patients were described.


METHODS
Between June 2012 and September 2014, all patients in the Gelderse Vallei Hospital and the VU University Medical Center with histologically proven distal or mid-rectal carcinomas without evidence of distant metastases underwent TaTME. Patients with T4 tumors were excluded. Transanal mobilization was performed with the aid of a single port and endoscopic instruments according to TME criteria.


RESULTS
Eighty patients were operated in a period of 2 years. Laparotomy was recommended and performed in four patients. Postoperative morbidity was 39%. Ten (12%) complications were graded as severe (Clavien-Dindo grade 3, 4 and 5) and needed re-intervention. Median operative time was 204 min (range 91-447). Median hospital stay was 8 days (range 3-41). Specimens were graded as complete in 88% of the patients, nearly complete in 9% and incomplete in 3%. A positive circumferential resection margin (<2 mm) was observed in two patients. During the two and half years study period, a local recurrence was observed in two patients.


CONCLUSIONS
TaTME is a safe alternative to standard laparoscopic TME in selected low-risk patients with rectal carcinoma when treated by an experienced colorectal team. In the future, randomized trials are necessary to prove its oncological safety.
Department of Surgery, Gelderse Vallei Hospital, Willy Brandtlaan 10, 6716 RP, Ede, The Netherlands. m.veltcamphelbach@gmail.com.
M
M
Veltcamp Helbach
Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
C L
CL
Deijen
Department of Surgery, Gelderse Vallei Hospital, Willy Brandtlaan 10, 6716 RP, Ede, The Netherlands.
S
S
Velthuis
Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
H J
HJ
Bonjer
Department of Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
J B
JB
Tuynman
Department of Surgery, Gelderse Vallei Hospital, Willy Brandtlaan 10, 6716 RP, Ede, The Netherlands.
C
C
Sietses
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D007813:Laparotomy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D061646:Operative Time; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
Cancer; Colorectal; Endoscopy; G-I