title: Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery After Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy for Rectal Cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radical rectal resection following neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (CRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer is accompanied by relatively high morbidity. Local excision of rectal cancer may be more appropriate for some frail patients with severe comorbidities. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM), consisting of local excision of selected rectal cancers, has been associated with low rates of postoperative complications. Because neoadjuvant CRT for rectal cancer may be associated with increased complications, the suitability of TEM following CRT is still unclear. In this study we aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing TEM following neoadjuvant CRT.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study retrospectively analyzed all patients undergoing TEM for malignant rectal tumor in our institution between 2004 and 2010. They were divided into those who received CRT (CRT group) and those without CRT (non-CRT group). Demographics and clinical data were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four of 97 patients who underwent TEM were included: 13 CRT and 31 non-CRT. Age, comorbidities, and the duration of the procedure were similar for both groups. There were no significant group differences in tumor diameter (2.1 cm [range, 0.5-3.5 cm] and 2.9 cm [range, 0.5-4.2 cm], respectively; P=.125) or distance of the lower part of the tumor from the anal verge (6.7 cm [range, 5-10 cm] and 7.7 cm [range, 5-15 cm], respectively; P=.285). Two non-CRT patients had peritoneal entry, and 1 of them underwent protective ileostomy because of insecure rectal defect closure. One non-CRT patient underwent a re-operation for postoperative bleeding. The other perioperative complications were minor and included urinary retention requiring catheter placement (2 patients in each group), pulmonary edema (1 non-CRT patient), and pneumonia (1 non-CRT patient). All complications were managed conservatively. There was no wound disruption, major complication, or mortality in either group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With proper patient selection, TEM can be performed safely following CRT, without major complication or increased postoperative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center , Petah-Tikva, Israel .|2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Nidal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Issa
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center , Petah-Tikva, Israel .|2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murninkas
authors.affiliation: 2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .|3 Department of Gastroenterology, Hasharon Hospital, Rabin Medical Center , Petah-Tikva, Israel .
authors.forename: Hemda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmilovitz-Weiss
authors.affiliation: 4 Oncology Community Unit, Northern District, Clalit Health Services , Nazareth, Israel .
authors.forename: Abed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agbarya
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery B, Rabin Medical Center , Petah-Tikva, Israel .|2 Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University , Tel Aviv, Israel .
authors.forename: Eldad
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Powsner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059186:Chemoradiotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology; D019106:Postoperative Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011654:Pulmonary Edema / Q000209:etiology; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000067369:Transanal Endoscopic Microsurgery / Q000009:adverse effects; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology