Transanal endoscopic microsurgery as an outpatient procedure is feasible and safe

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) for the excision of rectal tumor is mostly performed as an inpatient procedure. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of TEM resection as an outpatient procedure in selected patients.

All first 178 consecutive patients who underwent resection of a rectal tumor using TEM in our institution from April 2011 to September 2013 were included.

Standardized retrospective chart review was performed. Primary outcome was 30-day mortality and morbidity. Secondary outcomes included unplanned admission and readmission rates, operative and pathologic data.

Of the 175 patients who underwent only TEM, 80% (140/175) were discharged the same day of surgery. There was no mortality. Morbidity rate was 31.4%. Ninety-one percent of 154 patients planned as outpatients were discharged the same day. The most common reason for unplanned admission was urinary retention (7/14; 50%). Twelve patients discharged the day of the procedure were readmitted at 30 days. Median operative time was 60 min (10-256 min). All lesions were removed with grossly negative margins with 15 positive microscopic margins on final pathology. A total of 124 adenomatous polyps and 37 malignant lesions were excised. Mean tumor diameter after fixation was 5.0 cm (range 0.5-11 cm).

Transanal endoscopic microsurgery as an outpatient procedure is feasible and safe in selected patients. The main reason for unplanned admission was urinary retention in our series.