Surgical treatment of retrorectal tumors: a plea for a laparoscopic approach.

INTRODUCTION: Retrorectal tumors (RRTs) are rare and often surgically excised due to the risk of malignant degeneration and compressive or obstructive symptoms. The approach for excision has traditionally been based on tumor location and performed using either a transabdominal or perineal approach depending on the position of the tumor. The advent of minimally invasive surgery, however, has challenged this paradigm. Here, we determined the applicability and potential advantages of a laparoscopic transabdominal approach in a series of 23 patients with RRTs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 23 patients presenting with RRTs treated at the Surgical Gastrointestinal Unit at Hospital de Sant Pau that were registered prospectively since 1998. The preoperative evaluation consisted of colonoscopy, CT scan and/or MRI, mechanical bowel lavage, and antibiotic therapy. Signed consent was obtained from all patients for a laparoscopic transabdominal approach unless the tumor was easily accessible via a perineal approach. In case of recurrence, a transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) approach was considered. Surgical details, immediate morbidity, and short- and long-term outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 23 RRT cases evaluated, 16 patients underwent a laparoscopic transabdominal approach and 6 underwent a perineal approach. No patients required conversion to open surgery. In the laparoscopic transabdominal group, the mean operating time was 158 min, the average postoperative hospital stay was 5 days, and postoperative morbidity was 18%. Three patients had recurrent RRTs, two of the three underwent surgical reintervention. The third patient was radiologically stable and close follow-up was decided. CONCLUSION: Our results show that laparoscopic transabdominal excision of RRT is a safe and effective technique, offering the potential advantages of less invasive access and reduced morbidity. This approach challenges the traditional paradigm of excision of these infrequent tumors based solely on tumor location and offers a viable alternative for the treatment of these infrequent tumors.

A research agenda for the European Association for Endoscopic Surgeons (EAES).

INTRODUCTION: The European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons (EAES) conducted this study aiming to identify the top research questions which are relevant to surgeons in Minimal Access Surgery (MAS). This is in order to promote and link research questions to the current clinical practice in MAS in Europe. METHODS: Using a systematic methodology, (modified Delphi), the EAES members and leadership teams were surveyed to obtain consensus on the top research priorities in MAS. The responses were categorized and redistributed to the membership to rate the level of importance of each research question. The data were reported as the weighted average score with a scale from 1 (lowest agreement) to 5 (highest agreement). RESULTS: In total, 324 of 2580 (12.5%) of the EAES members and the leaders responded to the survey and contributed to the final consensus. The ranked responses over the 80th percentile identified 39 research priorities with rating ranged from 4.22 to 3.67. The top five highest ranking research priorities in the EAES were centered on improving training in MAS, laparoscopic surgery for benign upper gastrointestinal conditions, integration of novel technology in OR, translational and basic science research in bariatric surgery and investigating the role of MAS in rectal cancer. CONCLUSION: An EAES research agenda was developed using a systematic methodology and can be used to focus MAS research. This study was commissioned by the European Association for Endoscopic Surgery (EAES).