Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta Completes Robotic Transanal Removal of a Large Pre-Cancerous Rectal Tumour Without External Incisions
Bengaluru – Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta, Bengaluru, has successfully performed a Robotic Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery (rTAMIS) in a 71-year-old patient for removal of a large pre-cancerous rectal tumour entirely through the body’s natural anal opening, without making any external skin incisions. The procedure was performed by a team led by Dr. Suraj Manjunath, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Bannerghatta.
The surgery allowed doctors to remove the entire tumour through the body’s natural anal opening, avoiding major abdominal surgery, preserving the patient’s rectum and normal bowel function and eliminating the need for a temporary or permanent stoma. The patient recovered well and was discharged within 24 hours.
The procedure was performed by a multidisciplinary team led by Dr. Suraj Manjunath, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta.
The tumour, measuring nearly 5 cm, was discovered during a routine health screening. Located high in the rectum, its size and position made it unsuitable for removal through conventional colonoscopy. In many such cases, patients often undergo major abdominal surgery, which may require removing part of the rectum and in some cases, creating a temporary or permanent stoma.
Instead, the surgical team used robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery to access and remove the tumour entirely through the natural opening. This approach helped preserve the rectum, avoided visible scars and reduced the physical impact of surgery.
“When patients hear they have a large rectal tumour, many assume major surgery is their only option,” said Dr. Suraj Manjunath, Senior Consultant – Surgical Oncology and Robotic Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals Bannerghatta. “For carefully selected patients, robotic transanal surgery offers a much less invasive alternative. It allows us to remove complex benign, pre-cancerous and selected early-stage rectal tumours with remarkable precision while preserving healthy tissue and bowel function. The benefits for patients are significant—less pain, quicker recovery, a shorter hospital stay and, importantly, the possibility of avoiding a stoma without compromising the quality of cancer surgery.”
The surgery was performed using the da Vinci Xi robotic platform, which provides surgeons with high-definition 3D visualisation and enhanced precision in confined spaces such as the rectum. The operation was completed in about two hours.
The patient’s recovery was smooth. He resumed a normal diet soon after surgery, required only minimal pain medication and returned home the next day. Laboratory analysis confirmed that the tumour had been completely removed with clear margins, indicating no abnormal tissue remained.
Compared with conventional surgery, robotic transanal minimally invasive surgery can offer several benefits for appropriately selected patients, including preservation of the rectum and bowel function, avoidance of large abdominal incisions, reduced post-operative pain, faster recovery, shorter hospital stay and, where clinically feasible, avoiding the need for a temporary or permanent stoma.
While robotic transanal surgery is not suitable for every rectal tumour, it represents a significant advancement in organ-preserving colorectal care. As routine screening helps detect more pre-cancerous and early-stage rectal lesions, such minimally invasive approaches can provide eligible patients with effective treatment while reducing the need for major surgery.
