A combination of transanal minimally invasive surgery and transanal technique to facilitate suturing during transanal minimally invasive surgery

Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is an effective option for the local excision of benign, non-invasive rectal lesions, or selected early stage rectal cancers. However, the suturing encountered in TAMIS remains technically challenging. A combination of TAMIS and transanal approach to suturing is demonstrated to address this challenge. A 64-year-old female with a T1N0 adenocarcinoma located in the anterior mid-rectum underwent TAMIS for resection of the lesion. Total operative time was 91 minutes. Free peritoneal defect was closed in two layers. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 1. Final pathology revealed a 0.7 cm T1 well-differentiated adenocarcinoma 0.8 cm from the closest resection margin. The patient remains free of systemic or local recurrence at 24 months. TAMIS is a safe and effective option for removal of benign rectal lesions or selected low grade T1 adenocarcinomas of the rectum. A hybrid TAMIS and transanal approach to suturing may often easily address the technical challenge of pure laparoscopic suturing in TAMIS.