Massive Retroperitoneal and Subcutaneous Emphysema after Transanal Excision of Rectal Cancer

Mamlin M. Midlenko A. Khamzina S. Mukazhanov A.
17 June 2021 S. Karger AG

Case Reports in Oncology
2021 #14 Issue 2 922 - 927 pp.

Transanal excision (TAE) is considered a safe, alternative approach for patients with early stage of rectal cancer. Complications associated with TAE are rare, such as bleeding, perforation, incontinence, and rectal stricture. Subcutaneous emphysema is early complication of laparoscopic surgery, common during upper gastrointestinal and gynecological surgery. We report a case of retroperitoneal and subcutaneous emphysema emerging after TAE of rectal tumor. The patient presented with changed bowel habits. Colonoscopy with pathology reports, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging showed an adenocarcinoma in the rectum at a 5 cm from the anus and did not reveal signs of invasive growth, pathologic lymph nodes, or systemic metastases. After surgery patient complained about abdominal pain and severe subcutaneous emphysema. Computed tomography showed retroperitoneal emphysema with no signs of rectal wall defect. He received antibiotics and was kept hospitalized with a solid diet and the retroperitoneal air disappeared on the thoracic X-ray. Patients who remain clinically stable or steadily improving without signs if peritonitis can be managed conservatively. Only in case of ineffectiveness of conservative therapy, undergo surgery.

Rectal cancer , Subcutaneous emphysema , Transanal excision

Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи

Department of Surgery, National Research Oncology Center, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan
Department of Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Organ Transplantation, National Research Oncology Center, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Department of Surgery
Nazarbayev University School of Medicine
Department of Hepatology

10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель

Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026