Rectal leiomyoma robotic enucleation – a video vignette

Abstract

Leiomyomas are by definition benign tumours of smooth muscle and are usually found in the uterus. Less frequently they are located along the digestive tract. Rectal leiomyoma is a rare entity, comprising about 0.03 to 0.05% of all rectal tumours. Robotic surgery has been proposed over the last decade as a valid option to treat gastrointestinal neoplasms with different grades of malignancy in a minimally invasive method. The most convincing indications for robotic surgery are procedures that involve a small, narrow operating field or that require extreme accuracy, fine dissection, and endoscopic suturing. Thus, the major technical advantages of robot assistance in benign or low‐ malignant lesions may be appreciated in term of an organ‐preserving procedure for critical anatomical localization, such as a rectal leiomyoma.