Complications after transanal endoscopic microsurgical resection correlate with location of rectal neoplasms

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) is a technique that has found its place in routine practice due to its minimal invasive character and associated low morbidity. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of anatomical variables of rectal neoplasms as well as surgeon experience on postoperative complications in patients undergoing TEM at a tertiary care center.

Data from 288 patients undergoing TEM over a 16 year period were entered in a prospective data base. Anatomical data of rectal neoplasms, operative data, and early postoperative outcome were analyzed retrospectively.

Overall surgical complications [OR 7.0 (1.5-45,5); p < 0.01] and bleeding [OR 222 (82 - 14316); p < 0.01] correlated with the localization of the neoplasm on the lateral wall of the rectum. Furthermore there was a trend for more surgical overall complications as well as bleeding in neoplasms with a diameter of >2 cm and neoplasms located >8 cm from the anal verge. Complications did not correlate with the number of TEM procedures performed.

TEM resection of neoplasms located on the lateral rectal wall have a higher risk of bleeding. The learning curve for transanal endoscopic microsurgery appears to be negligible in surgeons with experience in minimal invasive surgery.