Transanal electrovaporisation of rectal tumours

Objective: To present our early results with endoscopic transanal electrova porization of rectal tumours. Design: Retrospective study. Setting: Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Selcuk. Subjects: 10 patients, 4 with malignant and 6 with benign lesions. Interventions: Vaporization of the tumour using a new ridged roller electro de, the VaporTrode, and a standard 24F urological resectoscope. Main outcome measures: Morbidity and recurrence. Results: There were no complications and all adenomas were vaporized comple tely. 2 patients with obstruction required a further treatment 3 and 5 mont hs later because of recurrence. Median duration of operation was 22.5 minut es (range 10-38) and median duration of hospital stay was 3 days (range 1-4 ). Conclusion: The VaporTrode is a safe and potentially useful tool for transa nal excision of rectal tumours, the long term efficacy of which should be t ested in larger series of patients.