Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) is now ‘bottom up’ for precision.
The pelvis is a very interesting but complex part of the body. An intricate system of blood vessels and nerves that control bowel, urinary and sexual function travels through and stimulates organs in the pelvis. The internal space created by the rigid bony structure that homes all of these important organs and vessels can be very narrow, especially in men. The view that the surgeon has when looking down into the pelvis from the top can therefore be very limited. All these features make rectal surgery more challenging, especially when trying to remove the cancer as a whole without injuring the previous nerves and blood vessels.
Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) was pioneered to overcome these difficulties by offering the surgeon a different viewpoint that is not restricted by the bony pelvis – the “bottom up” approach! TaTME allows surgeons to obtain a better view for accurate dissection to free up and remove the rectum and mesorectum whilst protecting the important surrounding structures. It also allows two teams to work together; one from the top and one from the bottom so that they can further guide each other for an even more precise operation.