Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) was pioneered in 2009 by Drs. Atallah, Albert, and Larach in Central Florida. The technique uses a SILS port (single-port), which was meant for single incision laparoscopy. However, we decided to apply this transanally to achieve access within the rectum. This permits surgeons to perform local excision of benign polyps and well-selected, early stage cancers.
The inventors of TAMIS - Dr. Larach, Atallah, and Albert - equally share credit for its development. It was Dr. Larach who developed the concept of using laparoscopic instruments transanally. Next, Dr. Atallah used an existing Covidien SILS port to perform the first TAMIS. This was performed in June 30, 2009 at Florida Hospital - Winter Park. The results confirmed that TAMIS was a viable option, and not long after this, the first benign neoplasm was resected by Dr. Albert, and then the first pT1 Adenocarcinoma was resected by Dr. Atallah & Albert.
On February 21st, 2010 Drs. Atallah, Albert, and Larach published their series of six patients in Surgical Endoscopy, entitled: Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery: A Giant Leap Forward. This was the first report of using a single-port transanally to perform surgery anywhere in the world.
This novel technique has now been widely accepted as a feasible method for transanal excision. By 2012, Drs. Albert, Atallah, deBeche-Adams, and Larach had completed TAMIS resections on more than 60 patients -- far more than any other center in the world. Currently, there are two FDA-approved single ports which may be used to perform this procedure in the United States: The SILS Port (Covidien) and the GelPOINT Path Transanal Access Platform (Applied Medical). In Europe, and elsewhere, the Ethicon single port device has been used.
Radically different than other approaches to transanal surgery, TAMIS is considered one of the most significant developments to impact colorectal surgery in the past quarter-century.
DOWNLOAD our March 14th, 2012 Power Point Dinner Presentation (MAC Format)
CLICK HERE to view our 2010 ASCRS Presentation on TAMIS
Read about how surgeons at The University of California - San Diego are doing TAMIS
See how doctors at Stony Brook Medical Center are adopting TAMIS as a 'novel approach', and how TAMIS is now being used at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care as well as Swedish Medical Center in Seattle and Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan. TAMIS has also been added to the list of procedures done at NW Center for Colorectal Health in Portland.
Dr. Atallah on TAMIS:
"TAMIS is a revolutionary approach to the removal of rectal tumors and polyps. It has quickly caught on -- our technique is now being performed at top institutions, like Harvard Medical Schoool; It's being done across the country from Boston to San Diego, and around the world in countries such as Canada, Greece, Brazil, and Germany."
Read more - TAMIS in the press
Read more - TAMIS at Florida Hospital
Read about TAMIS as a Novel Surgical Technique to enable removal of large polyps
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Drs. Larach, Atallah, and Albert coined the term 'TAMIS' in 2009 while at Bosphorous Restaurant in Winter Park, Florida.
Dr. Larach (Left) and Atallah (right) perform TAMIS