Abstract
We report the advantage of employing transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) using the contact Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of a rectal anastomotic stenosis. A 72-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a postoperative rectal anastomotic stenosis. Twenty months prior to admission, the patient underwent a low anterior resection for the treatment of the rectal cancer using an EEA stapling device. A barium enema and colonoscopy revealed a rectal stenosis, 0.8-cm diameter. This stenosis was at the anastomotic site, approximately 4.0 from the dental line. An endoscopic treatment was performed transanally using the contact Nd:YAG laser. The stenotic rectal wall was fulgurated or vaporized completely. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. We concluded that TEM appears to be a safe and minimally invasive procedure. Furthermore, the contact Nd:YAG laser is very effective in treating the gastrointestinal stenotic area. To our knowledge, this is the first successful report of this novel procedure.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kato, K., Saito, T., Matsuda, M. et al. Successful treatment of a rectal anastomotic stenosis by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM) using the contact Nd:YAG laser. Surg Endosc 11, 485–487 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649900398
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s004649900398