Dr. Thaer Abdelfattah, a gastroenterologist with Roger Williams Medical Center’s Digestive Diseases Center, has performed Rhode Island’s first Endoscopic Full-Thickness Resection, or EFTR.

This spring, an 18-year-old male had a colonoscopy to evaluate abdominal pain, constipation, and bleeding. A 15 mm tumor in the rectum was removed endoscopically, but the resection margins around the removal were positive for cancer. After a multidisciplinary discussion between the Roger Williams surgical oncology team, gastroenterology, the patient, and his family, the decision was made to perform a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure called Endoscopic Full-Thickness Resection (EFTR). This is a minimally invasive procedure used to remove cancer, pre-cancer, or abnormal tissues from the gastrointestinal tract. This procedure is available elsewhere but has never been performed before in Rhode Island.

Dr. Abdelfattah performed the procedure in April.  The patient did well and was discharged home the same day. A pathology evaluation showed no residual tumor and the patient, and his family, were greatly relieved.

Dr. Nabil Toubia, Chief of the Division of Gastroenterology, stated, “This is a significant advance for surgical GI interventions in Rhode Island. I am proud that Roger Williams’ Digestive Disease program continues to bring leading edge care to Rhode Island and to the community we serve”.