Modern Trends in Minimally Invasive Rectal Cancer Surgery

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• The Rise of Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery: A Key Advancement
• Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (taTME)
• Increasing Treatment Complexity and Tailoring
• The Critical Need for Centralization
• Summary of Future Treatment Trends

The Rise of Minimally Invasive Surgery

Minimally invasive procedures for rectal cancer treatment are becoming much more common. Dr. Torbjorn Holm, MD, a leading cancer surgeon, notes that the use of these techniques is increasing very rapidly. This shift represents a significant trend in modern surgical oncology, moving away from traditional open surgeries.

These approaches aim to reduce patient trauma, decrease postoperative pain, and shorten recovery times.

Robotic Surgery: A Key Advancement

A major driver of this trend is the adoption of new robotic surgery platforms. Dr. Torbjorn Holm, MD, explains that robotics now allow more patients to benefit from a minimally invasive approach to treat rectal cancer. The robotic system provides surgeons with enhanced dexterity, precision, and 3D high-definition vision.

This technology facilitates complex dissections in the confined space of the pelvis, which is crucial for rectal cancer operations.

Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (taTME)

Another groundbreaking innovation is the recent launch of transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME). Dr. Torbjorn Holm, MD, observes that this novel surgical method is now taking over quickly. The taTME technique involves removing the cancer through a natural orifice, offering a different and often advantageous approach to the pelvis.

This method can provide excellent visualization and may be particularly beneficial for low rectal cancers, potentially improving the quality of the resection.

Increasing Treatment Complexity and Tailoring

Dr. Torbjorn Holm, MD, states that treatment of rectal cancer has become more and more complex. There are now numerous options and possibilities, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. The modern standard of care is to meticulously tailor the treatment plan for each individual patient.

This personalization considers factors like the tumor's stage, location, and molecular characteristics to optimize outcomes.

The Critical Need for Centralization

This complexity means that dealing with patients with rectal cancer requires surgeons to be very well educated. Dr. Torbjorn Holm, MD, emphasizes that this expertise necessitates the centralization of treatment in high-volume hospitals. Centers that perform a large number of these procedures consistently achieve better results.

Patients should seek care at institutions where doctors have extensive experience and know how to treat rectal cancer well, as this directly impacts survival and quality of life.

Summary of Future Treatment Trends

According to Dr. Holm, the future of rectal cancer treatment is built on several key pillars. It involves care delivered in high-volume surgical departments by specialized teams. Patients will be more well-educated and involved in their care decisions.

Treatments will be highly individualized, increasingly based on molecular assessments of the tumor. Finally, the role of minimally invasive surgery, including robotic and transanal techniques, will continue to expand significantly.

Full Transcript

Dr. Anton Titov, MD: What are important trends in cancer treatment today? Why should patients know and follow these best cancer treatment practices?

Dr. Torbjorn Holm, MD: A leading cancer surgeon discusses surgical treatment of cancer. I think minimally invasive procedures for rectal cancer treatment will be much more common than they are today. We can already see that minimally invasive surgery for rectal cancer treatment is increasing very rapidly.

Now with the new robotic surgery, more patients have minimally invasive surgery to treat rectal cancer. Recently, a new method of transanal total mesorectal excision of rectal cancer has been launched. This surgery method is now taking over quickly.

In one way, treatment of rectal cancer has become more and more complex today. There are so many options and there are so many possibilities in treatment of rectal cancer. We have to tailor the treatment for each individual patient.

That means that to deal with patients with rectal cancer, you have to be very well educated. Again, that means that you have to centralize treatment in hospitals with high volumes, where doctors know how to treat rectal cancer well.

This is the future of rectal cancer treatment: high-volume surgical departments, well-educated patients, individualized treatments based on molecular assessments, and then more minimally invasive surgery. That is the summary of future trends in rectal cancer treatment.