[Transanal resection of the rectum]

A new method of an organ-preserving operation for the management of the initial forms of rectal carcinoma and benign tumors of the distal parts of the rectum has been elaborated and successfully used at the Scientific Research Institute of Proctology. It consists in transanal resection of the rectum with creation of a recto-anal anastomosis. Transanal resection of the rectum was performed on 34 patients. Sixteen patients had giant or recurrent villous tumours of the distal part of the rectum 6 of which had undergone malignant degeneration. In a group of 34 patients 14 had the initial forms of carcinoma of the inferoampular part of the rectum, 2 had a deep cystic colitis, and the other 2 patients were operated on for neurilemoma and teratoma. Recurrences were not revealed in patients with benign diseases in follow-up periods of 2 to 8 years. Recurrent carcinoma of the rectum in the region of the anastomosis was found in 2 patients in follow-up periods of 25 to 37 months. They underwent extirpation of the rectum. The new method enables stable recovery to be achieved and saves the patients from crippling abdomino-anal resections and extirpation of the rectum in the management of benign new growths and initial forms of carcinoma of the distal parts of this organ.