Transanal endoscopic microsurgery

Transanal endoscopic microsurgical (TEM) instrumentation allows access to lesions in the upper rectum, an area previously reached mainly with laparotomy and resection. Consequently, TEM has the potential ability to shorten hospital stay, decrease postoperative pain, and allow a faster return to baseline activities. The lesions addressed include adenomas of any size and properly selected carcinomas. TEM has gained wide acceptance in Europe; however, it has been somewhat slow to catch on in this country, probably as a result of its technically difficult nature and the high cost of the equipment.