[Stapled transanal resection for the treatment of obstructed defaecation syndrome]

Stapled transanal rectal resection (STARR) has become a well-evaluated surgical procedure for the treatment of outlet obstruction in the context of conservative refractory obstructed defaecation syndrome (ODS). The diagnosis of ODS needs to be objectified which can be best ensured by clinical scoring systems. Besides a general coloproctological examination, dynamic defecography represents the most important diagnostic procedure. Pelvic floor dyssynergia and slow transit constipation should always be taken into account for the differential diagnosis and for which the STARR procedure is generally contraindicated. Surgery is performed via a transanal approach using a full thickness rectal resection of either the ventral or dorsal proportion of the rectal wall in the PPH01 conventional procedure or circumferentially by monoblock resection in the contour transtar® procedure. Morbidity is best characterised by data of the European STARR registry which contains a total number of n = 2,838 consecutive patients. The overall morbidity rate was 36 % whereby urgency (20 %) and bleeding (5 %) were the most frequent complications. More favourable data have been published in single centre studies. Functional results are available with a follow-up of 1 year up to 68 months postoperatively. Response rates of up to 90 % were reported whereas recurrence rates were given with a maximum of 18 % at 68 months follow-up. In summary, the STARR procedure provides good functional results in conservative refractory outlet obstruction with minor morbidity and the outcome seems to remain stable in the long-term follow-up.