Transanal total mesorectal excision (TATME) – preliminary findings

Fifteen years ago, laparoscopic surgery of rectal cancer was considered as radical in terms of oncology as open surgery. A trend to reduce surgical injury may be observed in surgery in recent years. In this paper the first experience in the new minimally invasive method of anterior rectal resection is described – through the transanal way. The procedure duration was 130 min. The use of transanal access in rectal cancer surgery is undoubtedly an alternative method to standard laparoscopic surgery. In patients with a large tumour in the lower rectum, the technique allows a longer rectal stump to be left below the resection border.