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Transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) is a specialized minimally invasive approach to removing benign polyps and some cancerous tumors within the rectum and lower sigmoid colon. The benefit of TAMIS is that it is considered an organ-sparing procedure, and is performed entirely through the body’s natural opening, requiring no skin incisions to gain access to a polyp or tumor. This scar-free recovery provides a quick return to normal bowel function.
Unlike traditional surgery where a major portion of the large intestine is removed, with TAMIS your surgeon will precisely remove the diseased tissue, leaving the rest of your natural bowel lumen intact to function normally.
Traditional surgery often requires a large incision and a hospital stay ranging from a few days to more than a week. A TAMIS procedure may only require an overnight stay in the hospital or can be performed as an outpatient procedure, often permitting patients an immediate return to an active lifestyle. If you have been diagnosed with a rectal tumor, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the treatment options for your specific condition to determine if TAMIS or another procedure is recommended for you.
If your doctor recommends surgery to remove a rectal tumor, you may be qualified for more than one type of procedure. Treatment options depend on a patient’s health and specific condition, including stage of tumor. Your surgeon may suggest a minimally invasive approach, which may shorten the post-surgical hospital stay and allow a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgical techniques. While not all conditions are amenable to a minimally invasive approach, advances in technology and surgical technique are allowing more patients to receive minimally invasive procedures. Below are common procedures your surgeon may offer to treat your condition. Remember, TAMIS poses all the same potential risks as other surgical procedures. It’s important to discuss your diagnosis with your healthcare provider to understand whether you are a candidate for a minimally invasive procedure.
Polypectomy may be performed during a colonoscopy to remove small growths from the wall of the colon and rectum. Commonly an instrument called a snare is used to remove the polyp. This is referred to as snare polypectomy. Sometimes follow-up surgery is recommended to remove any residual polyp. Surgery may also be recommended for polyps too large to remove during colonoscopy.
With a local excision, the tumor and a small amount of the surrounding tissue are removed from the rectum. The rest of the rectum is left intact. The surgeon accesses the rectum through the patient’s natural entry port (transanally), either by TAMIS or a similar method. The benefits of a local excision are that there are no skin incisions required, and the healthy part of the rectum is spared. Local excision, including TAMIS, is considered an organ-sparing procedure.
Local excision is commonly performed for benign tumors which are too large to be removed during colonoscopy. Local excision may also be effective for some early cancers (T1, T2), where the chance of recurrence and metastasis is typically low. Local excision is not an effective treatment for advanced cancers (T3, T4), though may be employed if a patient declines, or is not healthy enough, to undergo more complex surgery. It’s important to talk to your doctor to determine if TAMIS or another procedure is recommended to treat your specific condition.
A low anterior resection (LAR) may be recommended for patients with a tumor in the upper (proximal) two-thirds of the rectum. LAR may also be recommended for patients with a tumor in the lower (distal) one-third of the rectum. The surgery entails the removal of all or a portion of the rectum, the sigmoid colon, and part of the descending colon.
An abdominoperineal resection (APR) may be performed for tumors that have spread to the lowest area of the rectum and/or anus. An APR involves removal of part of the sigmoid colon, the rectum and the anus. Because the anus is removed, the removal of waste requires a stoma, which reroutes the large intestine through the abdominal wall and outside the body. A special bag must be worn permanently to collect waste flow from the body. This is referred to as a permanent colostomy.