The Role of Transanal Endoscopic Surgery for Early Rectal Cancer

Evaluation and Management of Malignant Colorectal Polyps

The detection rate of dysplastic colorectal polyps has significantly increased with improved screening programs. Treatment of dysplastic polyps attempt to limit morbidity of a procedure while also considering the risk of occult lymph node metastasis. Therefore, a variety of methods have been developed to predict the rate of lymph node metastasis to help identify the optimal treatment of patients. These include both the endoscopic and pathologic assessment of the lesion. In order to reduce the morbidity of surgery for patients with low-risk lesions, multiple endoscopic therapies have been developed, including endoscopic mucosal resection, endoscopic submucosal dissection, endoscopic intermuscular dissection, and transanal endoscopic surgery.

Clinical Experience of a Smart Articulating Digital Device for Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery

BACKGROUND

The constrained access associated with transanal minimally invasive surgery has led surgeons to deploy robotic-assisted platforms to offset inherent maneuverability limitations and, perhaps, skills deficits.

IMPACT OF INNOVATION

A handheld, powered 5-mm lightweighted laparoendoscopic electromechanical digital device (HandX, HumanXtensions, Israel) with hardware and software components that convert surgical hand movements precisely to the instrument's articulating tip and enable robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery with full tip roticulation for hook diathermy and suturing.

TECHNOLOGY, MATERIALS, AND METHODS

After bench and biomedical model training, HandX was used in 3 transanal minimally invasive surgery procedures (2 male patients and 1 female patient, mean age 66.3 years). The rectal lesions averaged 30 mm in maximum dimension and were located posteriorly (n = 2) and laterally (n = 1) a mean of 3 cm from the anal verge. Standard transanal minimally invasive surgery setup and instrumentation (Gelport Path, Applied Medical with Airseal, and Conmed) were used, adding the HandX device for circumferential lesion marking and hemostatic full-thickness excision as well as defect suturing where appropriate.

PRELIMINARY RESULTS

All procedures were completed without undue prolongation (operating times <1 hour) despite nuisance hemorrhoidal bleeding in 1 patient. All lesions were fully excised, with 2 being T1 cancers and 1 tubulovillous adenoma with high-grade dysplasia. All patients were discharged within 48 hours postoperatively (1 experienced secondary hemorrhage on postoperative day 5).

CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

HandX capably facilitated endoscopic robot-like instrument movement for transanal minimally invasive surgery without disrupting workflows. With time dedicated to instrument understanding and training, HandX increased dexterity with a small operating room footprint and may offer greater cost-effectiveness than other platforms.