The present study reports the case of a patient with a rectal submucosal tumor (leiomyoma) that was resected transvaginally. A 51-year-old female presented with a rectal submucosal tumor on the anterior wall of the lower rectum, located within 3 cm of the anal verge. This location would normally require intersphincteric or abdominal perineal resection. However, in order to minimize the invasiveness of the treatment and reduce post-operative morbidity, transvaginal resection and laparoscopic diverting ileostomy were performed instead. With the patient under general anesthesia, the posterior vaginal mucosa was incised vertically. The tumor was then excised en bloc with the overlying rectovaginal septum and rectal submucosal tumor. A primary repair of the defect and a diverting stoma were performed. The procedure did not present any complications, and the patient was discharged on day 10 post-surgery. The diverting stoma was closed 3 months later, and the sphincter function of the patient following surgery was monitored by manometry. The results of the manometric tests indicated that the patient did not suffer from fecal incontinence. In addition, the patient did not experience anal dysfunction or discomfort following the surgical procedure.
Keywords: rectal submucosal tumor; transvaginal resection.