AimThe aim of this study was to report on the feasibility of transanal minimally invasive surgery (TAMIS) as a novel approach to redo colorectal or ileoanal anastomoses.MethodsFrom October 2014, a prospective institutional database was created for all consecutive patients who underwent redo surgery by TAMIS for presacral sinus or anastomotic stenosis after low anterior resection or pouch-related problems following restorative proctocolectomy. Intra-operative feasibility, 30-day postoperative outcomes, intestinal continuity and complications after 6-month follow-up were evaluated.ResultsOf 17 included patients, 14 underwent anastomotic reconstruction and three completion proctectomy. The median operation time was 265 min (range 201–413). A successful rendezvous with simultaneous transabdominal access was achieved in 15 patients, and the procedure was completed by TAMIS alone in two. Five patients were readmitted within 30 days (29 %). Two (14 %) patients developed an anastomotic leakage within 30 days and 4 (24 %) developed a pelvic abscess requiring reintervention. One patient developed an urethra stenosis and was managed with a suprapubic catheter. Median follow-up was 9 (6–15) months. Within 6-month follow-up, the redo-TAMIS 1 patient developed a delayed anastomotic leak and 1 patient had a recurrent presacral abscess after stoma closure. Intestinal continuity was reached in 71 % of the patients at 6-month follow-up.ConclusionTAMIS is a valuable approach in redo pelvic surgery, but is still associated with high complication rates related to the complexity of the underlying problem.

Background: Definitive closure of fistula-in-ano poses an ongoing surgical challenge. The OVESCO OTSC ® Proctology Clip (proctology clip) purports to offer improved preservation of the anal sphincter whilst at the same time curing the fistula by closure. Methods: A retrospective record review was conducted for patients who received the proctology clip as part of the management of fistula-in-ano in the Colorectal Unit at Wits Donald Gordon Medical Centre (WDGMC). Results: There were 19 cases of fistula-in-ano treated with the proctology clip. All were cryptoglandular in origin. The median age was 50 years (IQR 44-56 years) and post-procedure, the median follow-up duration was 145 days (IQR 63-298 days). Overall, 9 procedures were successful (47%). Success rates were higher for simple (66.7%) as opposed to complex (38.5%) fistula-in-ano. For patients who underwent placement of the proctology clip as a primary procedure, the success rate (50%) was slightly better than those who received the clip as a secondary procedure (44.4%). Conclusion:This preliminary data presents our initial experience using the proctology clip. While these data may serve as a "proof of concept", a multi-centre controlled trial comparing this method to the rectal mucosal advancement flap (RMAF) is needed to determine the role of the proctology clip in the management of fistula-in-ano.

Colonoscopy is regularly used for investigation of bowel pathology and has become the gold standard for screening and diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC). [1] The procedure has diagnostic and therapeutic benefits, such as direct visualisation of the entire colon and removal of precancerous polyps, which is associated with a lowered risk of CRC. [2] Colonoscopy is a skill-intensive procedure and poses a risk to the patient, even if performed by a trained endoscopist in an appropriate setting. [1] Therefore, there is a need for standardised practice and regular audit of endoscopists to ensure consistent, high-quality care. [3] Based on the 'adenoma-carcinoma sequence' hypothesis for developing CRC, screening and surveillance colonoscopy aim to detect and remove polyps, particularly adenomatous polyps, with the intention of reducing the incidence of CRC. [4] Therefore, the polyp detection rate (PDR) and adenoma detection rate (ADR) are two key indicators of the quality of endoscopy. Other measurable This open-access article is distributed under Creative Commons licence CC-BY-NC 4.0.

According to GLOBOCAN, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the fourth most common cause of cancerrelated death, with 1.85 million new cases diagnosed worldwide in 2018. [1,2] The incidence of CRC appears to be increasing in emerging low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) owing to socioepidemiological transitions, including dietary changes, with countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) reporting a notable increase in colorectal, breast and prostate cancer. [3,4] South Africa (SA) is no exception-the incidence of CRC is increasing steadily, and it was the sixth leading cause of cancer-related death in 2018. [1] It is noteworthy that apart from increasing incidence, the average age of CRC patients at the time of diagnosis in SSA is ~10 years younger than that observed in high-income countries (HICs). [5,6] In addition, other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including diabetes and respiratory and cardiovascular disease, are on the rise, with the prevalence in SA being reported as two to three times higher than in HICs. [7] While there are no published data on comorbidity with CRC from SSA, many CRC cohorts from HICs describe a considerable comorbidity burden that adversely affects short-(30-day) and long-This open-access article is distributed under Creative Commons licence CC-BY-NC 4.0.