Iranian Journal of Colorectal Research (Jun 2021)

TAMIS for Recurrent Cancer of the High Rectum (25 cm from the Anal Verge) in a Patient with Serious Associated Disorders (Rescue Surgery)

  • Alessandro Verbo,
  • Vito Laterza,
  • Marco Montagna,
  • Giovanni Di Palma,
  • Giovanni Moschetta,
  • Annamaria Martullo

DOI
https://doi.org/10.30476/acrr.2021.91751.1106
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 2
pp. 82 – 85

Abstract

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INTRODUCTION Transanal Minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is indicated for benign lesions of the rectum distant up to 5 cm and not exceeding more than 1/3 of the rectal circumference; for early stage malignancies confined to the submucosa (T1 sm1 according to the Kikuchi classification); for cancers after complete response to neoadiuvant treatments or with T1 residue (due to a risk of mesorectal positive lymph node between 3-6%); for T2-T3 N0 in patients who cannot undergo major surgical resections due to a compromised general (rescue surgery). TAMIS is especially recommended for neoplasms located at a distance between 5 and 18 cm from the anal verge. CASE PRESENTATION We performed TAMIS on a 72-year-old patient diagnosed with diffuse polyposis syndrome (FAP), with multimorbidity and a history of recurrences, all treated with surgical resection, AND with a new recurrence on the ileo-rectal anastomosis at about 25 cm from the anal verge. A rectoscopy and a total body CT were performed (anastomotic level; size 2 cm; staging: cT1-2, N0, M0; histology: adenocarcinoma). The final decision after multidisciplinary meeting was for TAMIS, due to high intra- and post-operative risk contraindicating major surgery. Data regarding total operating time, blood losses, length of stay, surgical and general intra and post-operative complications, resumption of nutrition and therapies (antibiotics and pain relievers) were collected. The operation was successful, with a total operating time of 55 minutes, and an estimated blood loss of 20 ml. The patient was rapidly mobilized and nutrition promptly resumed. The length of stay was 3 days. We did not observe any complications. CONCLUSION We showed for this patient the feasibility and safety of TAMIS resections at greater distances than those normally recommended.

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