In-one-continuity rectal excision and anal mucosectomy of a giant villous adenoma: an alternative surgical approach

The authors present a woman suffering from McKittrick-Wheelock syndrome (MKWS) with a giant rectal villous adenoma. MKWS is a rare disorder caused by fluid and electrolyte hypersecretion from a rectal tumor. The most frequently reported tumors are villous adenomas. Symptoms of dehydration with severe hyponatremia, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis and acute renal failure are typical in MKWS. Several options for operation have been reported, such as a transsacral approach (according to Kraske), transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) or total mesorectal excision (TME). In this case we report an alternative surgical approach: in-one-continuity transanal mucosectomy and transabdominal TME with a handsewn colonic-anal anastomosis.

A 54-year-old woman had a history of hospital admissions because of repeated bouts of dehydration with electrolyte disorders since 2004. At admission she presented with prerenal azotemia, hyponatremia and severe hypokalemia in combination with watery stools. At colonoscopy an 8-cm villous adenoma was seen in the rectum. Dehydration and electrolyte disturbances were treated by appropriate intravenous fluid administration. An in-one-continuity anal mucosectomy and complete rectal excision were performed and restored by a handmade colonic-anal anastomosis. Postoperative recovery was uneventful.

MKWS can be a difficult problem to assess in both gastroenterological and nephrological ways. Patients may develop severe complications which require surgical intervention in some cases. In-one-continuity transanal mucosectomy and rectum excision with a handmade colonic-anal anastomosis seemed to be a new and solid surgical therapeutic option in this case.