Robotic assisted rectal disk excision: the 3-cm diameter cut off may be abandoned

Abstract

To describe the robotic full-thickness rectal excision using a transanal circular stapler in rectovaginal endometriosis nodule infiltrating the rectum >3 cm. Surgical video article. The local institutional review board was consulted, and the requirement for institutional review board approval was waived because the video describes a technique and the patient cannot be identified whatsoever. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for the use of personal data. A tertiary referral center. Patients undergoing excision of rectal endometriosis. Standardized technique of full-thickness disk excision of large rectovaginal endometriosis nodules employing a combined robotic and trans anal approach. Feasibility of the technique. The technique is designed for deep rectovaginal nodules infiltrating middle and low-rectum up to 3 to 5 cm in length. The procedure was performed with robotic assistance. The 7-degree freedom mobility of the robotic scissors allows for a deep rectal shaving, with the goal of progressive reduction of the thickness of rectal wall. The scissors follow the rectal wall tangentially and leave behind a thin rectal wall which can be bent and pushed into the trans anal stapler's jaws. We employed end-to-end, 33 mm-diameter, circular trans anal staplers to increase the area of rectal wall to be caught into the stapler. A stitch was placed on the superior and the inferior limits of the shaved area, then the shaved area was bent and pushed into the stapler by tying a suture. The general surgeon closed and fired the stapler, then the stapler was removed together with a rectal patch of 4- to 6-cm diameter. The procedure ended in the bubble test which checked the integrity of the stapled line. Supplementary stitches may be placed to reinforce the suture, if required. The preliminary rectal shaving represents the real keystone of this procedure, and our experience suggests that the robotic assistance improves its feasibility in large nodule responsible for intrarectal protrusion.