The crucial techniques and anatomic markers in transanal total mesorectal excision

Abstract

Transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) for rectal cancer is a hot spot in the field of colorectal surgery in recent years, because this technique has the advantages of clear distal margin, early separation of tumor leision, in the treatment of low rectal cancer. However, this technique is not popularized yet, and there are only a few colorectal surgeons who have enough experience. This article shares the experience of taTME in our hospital, including the details of purse string suture, spiral dissection of rectum, and the anatomic markers of anterior and posterior of rectum, conjoined longitudinal muscle and capillary of pelvic nerves locating in pelvic fascia. We sum up the crucial techniques as transanal operation, single port endoscopic technique and mucosal surgical principle (from inside to outside and from bottom to top), aiming to help colorectal surgeons to grasp the essentials of the techniques with initial cases as soon as possible, and to shorten the learning curve, so that more and more patients can benefit.