Total mesorectal excision - 40 years of standard of rectal cancer surgery.

Total mesorectal excision - 40 years of standard of rectal cancer surgery. Acta Chir Belg. 2020 Mar 23;:1-13 Authors: Votava J, Kachlik D, Hoch J Abstract Total mesorectal excision (TME) was first described 40 years ago by Richard Heald. The purpose of this article is to point out importance of this surgical procedure. Starting from first attempts to surgically cure rectal carcinoma in the 19th century through Miles' operation at the beginning of the 20th century results were not satisfactory due to high number of local recurrences after resections for rectal cancer. Progress in surgical technique and knowledge of anatomy and embryology of the rectum led to development of TME. Principle of TME is surprisingly simple: removal of the rectum with complete embryonic space containing lymph nodes which are site of primary dissemination of the disease. Main advantages and drawbacks of TME as well as focus on newer procedures developed from the concept of TME are presented in the form of a review. PMID: 32200705 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Acta Chirurgica Belgica - Category: Surgery Tags: Acta Chir Belg Source Type: research