Endorectal mucosal resection without proctectomy as an adjunct to abdominoperineal resection for nonmalignant conditions: clinical experience with five patients.

Five patients with chronic ulcerative colitis underwent endorectal excision of the rectal mucosa without removing the rectal muscle in combination with total colectomy and cutaneous ileostomy. This operative technique will cure the patient of the primary disease and obviates many of the usual unpleasant complications following total proctectomy, such as prolonged perineal drainage and sexual and bladder dysfunction. It has the further advantages of lower operative blood loss and earlier safe ambulation. On the basis of favorable clinical experience with these patients, we believe that the operation warrants further clinical trial in patients who have biopsy-proven ulcerative colitis without severe rectal ulcerations as well as in certain other nonmalignant conditions originating in the rectal mucosa.