Sponge Single-port Laparoscopy-assisted Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision for Low Rectal Cancer: a Technical Report

Laparoscopic colorectal surgery is a surgical technique as safe as open surgery. Transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME), which is a new approach in rectum surgery, is the resection of the rectum with the perianal approach with the help of endoscopic instruments. Although there are specially designed tools for this approach, it can also be done with the help of other options. Our patient, who we prepared for the operation with the diagnosis of rectal cancer, was operated with a standard technique using a manually prepared sponge-port during the Coronavirus disease-19 pandemic period. After resection, the specimen was taken out transrectally, coloanal anastomosis was performed with 2/0 vicryl one by one, and the operation was completed with a protective ileostomy. Operation time was 245 minutes. The patient who did not develop postoperative complications was discharged on the 5th day. The wide series results should be followed in order to compare the oncological and clinical results of TaTME with open and standard laparoscopic TME results, which allows to perform the tumor surgical margin macroscopically with the dissection.