[10 years experiences with transanal endoscopic microsurgery. Histopathologic and clinical analysis]

The clinical and long-term results encountered from July 1983 to December 1992 are subject of this study. Contrary to other (transanal and transabdominal) surgical treatments the endorectal system permits therapeutic local excisions of large, rectal adenomas and early rectal carcinomas of the "low-risk" type within the entire rectum with minimal morbidity. A superior or comparable rate of adenoma recurrence (4.8%, n = 228) as well as a more favourable operative result (complication rate 3.9%; lethality 0.6%; n = 348) can be achieved with the transanal endoscopic microsurgery. Under palliative conditions, transanal endoscopic surgery is more effective than other conservative treatments in cases of circumscribed, non-stenotic carcinomas of the rectum. Thorough surgical training is required in order to successfully practice transanal endoscopic surgery.