Sessile adenomas are predominantly localized in the rectum and lower sigma. Surgical removal is indicated but often implies an invasive surgical procedure. Using conventional transanal surgical techniques, only the lower rectum can be reached and there are high rates of recurrence. The new technique combines an endoscopic view of the rectum under gas insufflation via a stereoscopic telescope with conventional surgical preparation and suturing. Adenomas can be excised using the mucosectomy technique or full-thickness-excision, whereas carcinomas should be excised using full-thickness excision with a sufficient border of healthy mucosa. In carcinomas of the sacral cavity, we remove the retrorectal fat up to the fascia of Waldeyer, including the regional lymph nodes. Transanal endoscopic microsurgery is the most economical and tissue-saving surgical technique for the removal of rectal adenomas and early rectal carcinomas.

In this large, randomized trial, laparoscopic cholecystectomy within 24 hours of hospital admission was shown to be superior to the conservative approach concerning morbidity and costs. Therefore, we believe that immediate laparoscopic cholecystectomy should become therapy of choice for acute cholecystitis in operable patients. (NCT00447304).

"Fast-track" rehabilitation for elective colonic resection was safe and feasible in German hospitals of all sizes and yielded a low general morbidity and re-admission rate. Post-operative recovery was enhanced, but discharge from hospital was delayed because of economical reasons.

Using the "transanal endoscopic microsurgery" technique, 140 patients were treated at the Department of Surgery in Cologne and Mainz. Of the patients with adenomas, 68.2% had typical symptoms preoperatively. The postoperative hospital attendance was 8.7 days, with an average resection size of 14.4 cm2. The postoperative complication rate was 5%, and there were no deaths related to the technique. In a prospective controlled trial, 2.2% of the patients with adenomas treated endoscopically in Mainz showed recidivation, requiring reoperation. The follow-up rate was 100%. In 30 cases, microscopic examination revealed carcinoma. Radical reoperation in 8 pT1 tumours showed neither remaining tumour nor lymph node metastases. Twelve patients with pT1 carcinoma treated by local surgery alone were recurrence-free with an average follow-up period of 12.3 months. So far, there have been no late results.

Televised endoscopy and the concept of the "assisted" endoscopic operation is of great help in teaching surgical endoscopic techniques. The use of training dummies provides a new method of training manual dexterity and surgical skills in special courses or in surgical skill laboratories. We have developed a training system for transanal endoscopic microsurgery. Operations with our technique were performed on 116 patients. Like other microsurgical techniques, our method requires a special introduction and intensive training. This paper presents our multistage, video-supported training course for teaching transanal endoscopic microsurgery. The one-day training session is divided into four steps: (1) becoming acquainted with the technology; (2) training on cloth phantom; (3) training on opened bowel; (4) training on closed bovine bowel distended by gas insufflation. Each step is introduced by a short videotape didactically demonstrating the particular aspects of the method.