[Transanal resection procedures-current status]

Transanal resection procedures are special surgical methods for the minimally invasive treatment of rectal tumors. Apart from benign tumors, this operative procedure is suitable for the excision of so-called low-risk T1 rectal carcinomas, if these can be completely removed up to healthy tissue (R0 resection) due to the size and localization. With stringent patient selection very good oncological results are achieved. Various international trials are currently evaluating whether local resection procedures are oncologically sufficient when there is complete or near complete remission after neoadjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Numerous studies have confirmed that in particular the functional results and the postoperative quality of life after local resection are excellent, especially considering the well-known functional deficits of alternative operations, such as low rectal resection or abdominoperineal extirpation.