[Transanal resection of the rectum]

Area of Science:

• Colorectal Surgery
• Surgical Oncology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Initial rectal carcinoma and benign distal rectal tumors pose management challenges.
• Traditional treatments like abdomino-anal resections can be debilitating.
• Organ-preserving surgical options are sought to improve patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate a new organ-preserving surgical method for distal rectal conditions.
• To assess the efficacy and safety of transanal resection with recto-anal anastomosis.
• To compare outcomes with traditional surgical approaches.

Main Methods:

• Development and application of transanal resection of the rectum with recto-anal anastomosis.
• Surgical intervention performed on 34 patients with diverse rectal pathologies.
• Patient follow-up ranging from 2 to 8 years for benign diseases and 25 to 37 months for carcinoma.

Main Results:

• Successful management of benign tumors (villous, neurilemoma, teratoma) with no recurrences observed.
• Effective treatment of initial rectal carcinoma forms in 14 patients.
• Two cases of recurrent rectal carcinoma at the anastomosis site required subsequent extirpation.

Conclusions:

• Transanal resection with recto-anal anastomosis is a viable organ-preserving option for selected distal rectal cancers and benign tumors.
• This technique significantly reduces the need for extensive and morbid rectal resections.
• The method facilitates stable recovery and preserves anal function in patients with early-stage rectal diseases.