Functional outcomes following transanal rectal surgery

Transanal rectal surgery and particulary transanal endoscopic microsurgery are becoming increasingly utilized in a variety of settings. In well-selected cases, oncologic outcomes are comparable to more radical techniques and operative complications are decreased with the less invasive procedures. Due to the necessity for anal dilation during transanal approaches however, concern over functional outcomes has developed. As the medical community focused on these functional results however, it became clear that compared to radical resection, transanal surgery compares favorably; disturbances due to pelvic nerve injury are notably less, and though incontinence often presents early post-operatively, it dissipates and has little effect upon patient quality of life.
Source: Seminars in Colon and Rectal Surgery - Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Source Type: research