Rectal stenosis after circular mechanical anastomosis; the influence of stapler size.

Background: The incidence of benign anastomotic stenosis (BAS) after radical surgery for rectal cancer ranges from 2 to 30%. There are few data regarding the factors related to its occurrence. One of these factors is the diameter of the circular mechanical staplers (CMS) used.

Endoscopic treatment (endoscopic balloon dilation/self-expandable metal stent) vs surgical resection for the treatment of de novo stenosis in Crohn's disease (ENDOCIR study): an open-label, multicentre, randomized trial.

Background: Stenosis is one of the most common complications in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) is the treatment of choice for a short stenosis adjacent to the anastomosis from previous surgery. Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) may be a suitable treatment option for longer stenoses.

Transanal versus laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for mid and low rectal cancer (Ta-LaTME study): multicentre, randomized, open-label trial.

Background: Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that tries to avoid conversion to open surgery. However, specific intraoperative complications and local recurrences have cast some doubt on the suitability of the technique. The primary endpoint of the present study was a composite outcome of conversion surgery.

Prospective evaluation of bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery.

Purpose: Bowel dysfunction after rectal cancer surgery may significantly affect the quality of life. Our study aimed to estimate the incidence and characterize the low anterior resection syndrome (LARS).

Methods: Prospective evaluation of patients treated with anterior resection for rectal cancer at two hospitals followed for 12 months after ileostomy reversal.

Study protocol for a multicenter prospective controlled and randomized trial of transanal total mesorectal excision versus laparoscopic low anterior resection in rectal cancer.

Purpose: Compared with the open approach, laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) achieves faster patient recovery, reduces morbidity rates, and shortens hospital stay. However, in laparoscopic low anterior resection (L-LAR), conversion to open surgery is required in almost 20% of cases. Transanal TME (Ta-TME) combined with laparoscopy, also called hybrid natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES), is a less invasive procedure that can overcome some of the limitations of laparoscopic rectal surgery.