In recent years he gave lectures around the world.
This list is not exhaustive, but summarizes some of the international conferences.
Department of Digestive and Oncological Surgery
Chair Department of Colorectal Surgery, ZOL ziekenhuis
Genk, België
Member of EAES and BSCRS (member of the board)
Co-founder of the iLappSurgery Foundation
National coordinator of AIS-channel
Prof. Dr. Joep Knol is a dutch surgeon who lives and works in Belgium for more than 30 years and who also had his complete medical and surgical training in Belgium.
Joep Knol worked for some years as a member of staff of the Department of Abdominal Surgery of the University Hospital of Leuven; as a young surgeon he visited the Mayo Clinic in Rochester (USA) on a yearly base.
From 2005 till 2010 he worked in the MZNL Hospital in Pelt after which he moved to the Jessa hospital in Hasselt from 2010-2020. During the last few years he was the Chair of the Department of Abdominal Surgery. In 2019 he successfully defended his PhD-thesis on “Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision – Safe Introduction of A New Technique”; the thesis was jointly supervised by the VU Amsterdam (NL) and the UHasselt (BE). In 2020 he was appointed as clinical professor at the UHasselt and he also was appointed as a Master at the University of Catania, Italy. In Catania he teaches Anatomy of the abdomen with a focus on minimal invasive surgery and approaches (laparoscopy and robotic surgery).
In 2015 Joep Knol was also co-founder of the iLappSurgery Foundation. This is a non for profit foundation which focuses on digital teaching, mainly through the development of Apps. The Foundation believes that this will help to improve the learning of young surgeons.
The content of the Apps is very dynamic and innovative; well known surgeons are participating to give lectures for the Apps.
Joep Knol is also national coordinator for the AIS channel, which is a web based channel with a focus on digital teaching.
From october 2020 on Joep Knol is working in the ZOL hospital in Genk (Belgium).
As the chair of the Department of Colorectal Surgery he organizes and improves the care of patients with colorectal diseases.
He also is a board member of the BSCRS (Belgian Section of ColoRectal Surgery), expert in several steering groups, and reviewer for surgical journals.
He published more than 40 manuscripts and some book chapters as author or co-author, and he is presenting his work in surgical conferences around the world.
He also operated in many countries during courses or on invitation.
Joep Knol operates in the ZOL hospital in Genk, and also in the hospital in Maaseik.
His outpatient clinic is located in the ZOL hospital in Genk: +32 (0)89 326020
EMC - Techniques Chirurgicales - Appareil digestif (2019)
Chapter: Proctectomie Endoscopique Transanale (P. Rouanet - J. Knol)
Transanal Minimally Invasive Surgery (TAMIS) and Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (taTME) - Editor: S. Atallah (2019)
Chapter: Video-Based Training App and Deferred Live Surgery
Surgery of the Anus, Rectum and Colon (4th Edition) – Editor: Michael Keighley (2019)
Chapter: TaTME
Mesenteric Principles of Gastrointestinal Surgery – Editor: C. Coffey (2017)
Chapter: Embryologic development of the mesentery, peritoneal reflection, and Toldt’s fascia
LapcoManual UK (2017)
Chapter: TaTME
The abstracts of the most important publications of Prof. Dr. Joep Knol are listed but are not exhaustive.
The abstracts and a complete list of publications can be found on Pubmed.
BMJ Innov 2020, Sep
Comparing 'Twitter' polls results with an online survey on surgeons perspectives for the treatment of rectal cancer
Antonio Caycedo-Marulanda, Sunil V Patel, Chris P Verschoor, Sami A Chadi, Gabriela Möslein, Manoj Raval, Amy Lightner, Manish Chand, Rosa Jimenez-Rodriguez, Joep Knol, Yasuko Maeda, John RT Monson, Steven D Wexner, Julio Mayol
Colorectal Disease 2020, July
Development and early outcomes of the national training initiative for transanal total mesorectal excision in the UK
Francis N, Penna M, Carter F, Mortensen NJ, Hompes R; ACPGBI National TaTME Training Initiative Steering Group
Colorectal Disease 2020, July
International expert consensus guidance on indications, implementation and quality measures for transanal total mesorectal excision.
TaTME Guidance Group representing the ESCP, in collaboration with the ASCRS, ACPGBI, ECCO, EAES, ESSO, CSCRS, CNSCRS, CSLES, CSSANZ, JSES, SACP, SAGES, SBCP, Swiss-MIS
Clinics of Colon and Rectal Surgery 2020, May
Total Mesorectal Excision Technique - Past, Present, and Future
Joep Knol, Deborah S Keller
Annals of Surgery 2020, Jan
Local Recurrence After Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer: A Multicenter Cohort Study
Sapho Xenia Roodbeen, Antonino Spinelli, Willem A Bemelman, Francesca Di Candido, Maylis Cardepont , Quentin Denost, Andre D'Hoore, Bert Houben , Joep Knol, Beatriz Martín-Pérez, Eric Rullier, Dana Sands, Ilana Setton, Katrien Van de Steen, Pieter J Tanis, Steven D Wexner, Roel Hompes, Albert M Wolthuis
Surgical Endoscopy 2020, Jan
Structured Training Pathway and Proctoring; Multicenter Results of the Implementation of Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) in the Netherlands
M Veltcamp Helbach, S E van Oostendorp, T W A Koedam, J J Knol, H B A C Stockmann, S J Oosterling, R C L M Vuylsteke, E J R de Graaf , P G Doornebosch, R Hompes, H J Bonjer, C Sietses, J B Tuynman
Annals of Surgery 2019, Nov
Predictive Factors and Risk Model for Positive Circumferential Resection Margin Rate After Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision in 2653 Patients With Rectal Cancer
Sapho X Roodbeen , F B de Lacy, Susan van Dieren, Marta Penna, Frédéric Ris, Brendan Moran, Paris Tekkis , Willem A Bemelman, Roel Hompes, International TaTME Registry Collaborative
Annals of Surgery 2019, Nov
Surgical Quality Assurance in COLOR III: Standardization and Competency Assessment in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Alice Y-C Tsai, Stella Mavroveli, Danilo Miskovic , Stefan van Oostendorp, Michel Adamina, Roel Hompes, Felix Aigner, Antonino Spinelli, Janindra Warusavitarne, Joep Knol, Matthew Albert, George Nassif Jr, Willem Bemelman, Luigi Boni, Henrik Ovesen, Ralph Austin, Andrea Muratore, Gerald Seitinger, Colin Sietses, Antonio M Lacy, Jurriaan B Tuynman, H Jaap Bonjer, George B Hanna
Annals of Surgery 2019, Sep
Urethral Injury and Other Urologic Injuries During Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: An International Collaborative Study
Patricia Sylla, Joep J Knol, Anthony P D'Andrea, Rodrigo O Perez, Sam B Atallah, Marta Penna, Roel Hompes, Albert Wolthuis, Philippe Rouanet, Abe Fingerhut , International taTME Urethral Injury Collaborative
Diseases of the Colon & Rectum 2019, July
Carbon Dioxide Embolism Associated With Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision Surgery: A Report From the International Registries
Edward A Dickson, Marta Penna, Chris Cunningham, Fiona M Ratcliffe, Jonathan Chantler, Nicholas A Crabtree, Jurriaan B Tuynman, Matthew R Albert, John R T Monson, Roel Hompes, International TaTME Registry Collaborative
World Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery 2019, May
Patients With Crohn's Disease Have Longer Post-Operative In-Hospital Stay Than Patients With Colon Cancer but No Difference in Complications' Rate
2015 European Society of Coloproctology (ESCP) Collaborating Group
Annals of Surgery 2019, Apr
Incidence and Risk Factors for Anastomotic Failure in 1594 Patients Treated by Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: Results From the International TaTME Registry
Marta Penna, Roel Hompes, Steve Arnold, Greg Wynn, Ralph Austin, Janindra Warusavitarne, Brendan Moran, George B Hanna, Neil J Mortensen, Paris P Tekkis, International TaTME Registry Collaborative
The Surgeon 2019, Feb
Cognitive Skills Training in Digital Era: A Paradigm Shift in Surgical Education Using the TaTME Model
Joep Knol, Deborah S Keller
Langenbeck’s Archives of Surgery 2019, Feb
Laparoscopic Right Posterior Sectionectomy: Single-Center Experience and Technical Aspects
Mathieu D'Hondt, Sander Ovaere, Joep Knol, Mathieu Vandeputte, Isabelle Parmentier, Celine De Meyere, Franky Vansteenkiste, Marc Besselink, Hans Pottel, Chris Verslype
Surgical Endoscopy 2020, July
Quality of Life After Rectal Cancer Surgery: Differences Between Laparoscopic and Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision
Marloes Veltcamp Helbach, Thomas W A Koedam, Joep J Knol, Simone Velthuis, H Jaap Bonjer, Jurriaan B Tuynman, Colin Sietses
Surgical Endoscopy 2019, Jan
Residual Mesorectum on Postoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Following Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) and Laparoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision (LapTME) in Rectal Cancer
M Veltcamp Helbach, T W A Koedam, J J Knol, A Diederik, G J Spaargaren, H J Bonjer, J B Tuynman, C Sietses
Colorectal Disease 2018, Nov
The Impact of Stapling Technique and Surgeon Specialism on Anastomotic Failure After Right-Sided Colorectal Resection: An International Multicentre, Prospective Audit
2015 European Society of Coloproctology Collaborating Group
Journal American College of Surgeons 2018, Oct
New Paradigm of Live Surgical Education: Synchronized Deferred Live Surgery
Joep Knol, Jaap Bonjer, Bert Houben, Steven D Wexner, Roel Hompes, Sam Atallah, Richard J Heald, Colin Sietses, Sami A Chadi
Colorectal Disease 2018, July
Is a Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision Programme Feasible in a Single-Team Setting?
A Caycedo-Marulanda, S Chadi, S Patel, J Knol, S D Wexner
Surgical Endoscopy 2018, Mar
St.Gallen Consensus on Safe Implementation of Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision
Michel Adamina, Nicolas C Buchs, Marta Penna, Roel Hompes, St.Gallen Colorectal Consensus Expert Group
Techniques in Coloproctology 2017, Oct
Operative Vectors, Anatomic Distortion, Fluid Dynamics and the Inherent Effects of Pneumatic Insufflation Encountered During Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision
S Atallah, P Gonzalez, S Chadi, R Hompes, J Knol
Colorectal Disease 2017, Sep
Risk Factors for Unfavourable Postoperative Outcome in Patients With Crohn's Disease Undergoing Right Hemicolectomy or Ileocaecal Resection An International Audit by ESCP and S-ECCO
2015 European Society of Coloproctology Collaborating Group
Surgical Endoscopy 2017, Jul
Consensus on Structured Training Curriculum for Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME)
Nader Francis, Marta Penna, Hugh Mackenzie, Fiona Carter, Roel Hompes, International TaTME Educational Collaborative Group
Annals of Surgery 2017, Jul
Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: International Registry Results of the First 720 Cases
Marta Penna, Roel Hompes, Steve Arnold, Greg Wynn, Ralph Austin, Janindra Warusavitarne, Brendan Moran, George B Hanna, Neil J Mortensen, Paris P Tekkis, TaTME Registry Collaborative
Colorectal Disease 2017, Mar
The Relationship Between Method of Anastomosis and Anastomotic Failure After Right Hemicolectomy and Ileo-Caecal Resection: An International Snapshot Audit
2015 European Society of Coloproctology Collaborating Group
HPB 2016, Dec
A Survey of European-African Surgeons' Management of Common Bile Duct Stones
Marie Vannijvel, Mickael Lesurtel, Wim Bouckaert, Bert Houben, Joep Knol, Guido Vangertruyden, Gregory Sergeant
Minimal Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies 2016, Oct
Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: Technical Aspects of Approaching the Mesorectal Plane From Below
Joep Knol, Sami A Chadi
Clinical Science 2016, Jul
Attenuated Atrial Natriuretic Peptide-Mediated Lipolysis in Subcutaneous Adipocytes of Obese Type 2 Diabetic Men
Kenneth Verboven, Dominique Hansen, Cedric Moro, Bert O Eijnde, Nicole Hoebers, Joep Knol, Wim Bouckaert, Anne Dams, Ellen E Blaak, Johan W E Jocken
Colorectal Disease 2016, Jul
Technique for a Stapled Anastomosis Following Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision for Rectal Cancer
E Bracey, J Knol, N Buchs, O Jones, C Cunningham, R Guy, N Mortensen, R Hompes
Techniques in Coloproctology 2016, Mar
Four Anastomotic Techniques Following Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME)
M Penna, J J Knol, J B Tuynman, P P Tekkis, N J Mortensen, R Hompes
Colorectal Disease 2016, Jan
Current Status of Trans-Anal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME) Following the Second International Consensus Conference
R W Motson, M H Whiteford, R Hompes, M Albert, W F A Miles, Expert Group Collaborators
Colorectal Disease 2015, Nov
Optimal Dissection for Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision Using Modified CO2 Insufflation and Smoke Extraction
G Nicholson, J Knol, B Houben, C Cunningham, S Ashraf, R Hompes
Techniques in Coloproctology 2015, Apr
Transanal Endoscopic Total Mesorectal Excision: Technical Aspects of Approaching the Mesorectal Plane From Below--A Preliminary Report
J J Knol, M D'Hondt, G Souverijns, B Heald, G Vangertruyden
Surgical Endoscopy 2015, Mar
Laparoscopic Mobilization of the Splenic Flexure: The Use of Color-Grading as a Unique Teaching Tool
Joep J A Knol, Steven D Wexner, Guido Vangertruyden
Techniques in Coloproctology 2009, Dec
Chronic Pelvic Abscedation After Completion Proctectomy in an Irradiated Pelvis: Another Indication for ENDO-sponge Treatment?
Mathieu D'Hondt, Geert De Hondt, Paul Malisse, Jan Vanden Boer, Joep Knol
Techniques in Coloproctology 2009, Mar
Laparoscopic-assisted Sigmoidectomy With Transanal Specimen Extraction: A Bridge to NOTES?
J Knol, M D'Hondt, E J Dozois, J Vanden Boer, P Malisse
The Doctoral Thesis of Joep Knol was titled “Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision – Safe Introduction Of A New Technique” and was successfully defended on 1th of February 2019 in Amsterdam.
The thesis was jointly supervised by the VU of Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and the UHasselt (Belgium).
Promotors: Prof. dr. Jaap Bonjer and prof. dr. Frank Vandenabeele
Co-promotor: dr. Colin Sietses
Jury:
Prof. dr. Donald Van der Peet (chair)
Dr. Ingrid Arijs
Prof. dr. Nuno Figueiredo
Prof. dr. Hans de Wilt
Prof. dr. Willem Bemelman*
*Member of the reading committee
External members of the jury:
Prof. dr. Richard (Bill) Heald
Prof. dr. Antonio de Lacey
Para-nimfen:
Dr. Lieven Herbots
Dr. Mathieu D'Hondt
While the treatment of rectal cancer is multimodal, above all a proper oncologic resection is critical.
The introduction and widespread education of total mesorectal excision (TME) have significantly impact on outcomes for rectal cancer surgery, and therefore the procedure has become the gold standard for curative resection of rectal cancer. The transanal total mesorectal excision (taTME) has been developed to overcome some of the problems that arise when operating deep down in the pelvis, aiming to achieve higher rates of complete specimens compared to abdominal TME. However this new and technically demanding procedure, requires a structured training and education for a safe implementation as part of a whole pathway.
Part 1 TME and TaTME
Chapter 1. Total Mesorectal Excision Technique: Past, Present, and Future
Joep Knol, Deborah S Keller – Clinics of Colon and Rectal Surgery 2020, May
Part 2 Technical aspects of TaTME
Chapter 2. Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: Technical aspects of approaching the mesorectal plane from below – A preliminary report
Joep Knol, Mathieu D’Hondt, Geert Souverijns, Richard J Heald, Guido Vangertruyden – Techn Coloproctology 2015, Apr
Chapter 3. Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision: Technical aspects of approaching the mesorectal plane from below
Joep Knol, Sami A Chadi – Minimal Invasive Therapy & Allied Technologies 2016, Oct
Chapter 4. Optimal dissection for Transanal TME using modified CO2 insufflation and smoke extraction
Gary Nicholson, Joep Knol, Bert Houben, Chris Cunningham, S Ashraf, Roel Hompes – Colorectal Disease 2015, Nov
Chapter 5. Operative vectors, anatomic distortion, and the inherent effects of pneumatic insufflation encountered during Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision
Sam Atallah, P Gonzalez, Sami A Chadi, Roel Hompes, Joep Knol – Techniques in Coloproctology 2017, Oct
Chapter 6. Four anastomotic techniques following Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision (TaTME)
Marta Penna, Joep Knol, Jurriaan Tuynman, Paris Tekkis, Neil Mortensen, Roel Hompes – Techn Coloproctol 2016, Mar
Chapter 7. Urethral injury and other urologic injuries during Transanal Total Mesorectal Excision, an international collaborative study
Patricia Sylla, Joep Knol, Anthony D’Andrea, Rodrigo Perez, Sam Atallah, Marta Penna, Roel Hompes, Albert Wolthuis, Philippe Rouanet, Abe Fingerhut, International Urethral Injury Collaborative – Annals of Surgery 2019, Sep
Part 3 Cognitive skills training of TaTME
Chapter 8. Cognitive skills training in digital era: a paradigm shift in surgical education using the taTME model
Joep Knol, Deborah Keller – The Surgeon 2019, Feb
Chapter 9. Laparoscopic mobilization of the splenic flexure: the use of color grading as a unique teaching tool
Joep Knol, Steven S Wexner, Guido Vangertruyden – Surgical Endoscopy 2015, Mar
Chapter 10. A new paradigm addressing the boundaries of live surgical education: synchronized deferred live surgery
Joep Knol, Jaap Bonjer, Bert Houben, Steven D Wexner, Roel Hompes, Sam Atallah, Richard J Heald, Colin Sietses, Sami A Chadi – Journal American College of Surgeons 2018, Oct
Joep Knol gives both lectures on local meetings (LOK), and on larger national and international conferences.
In 2012 his surgical video “Laparoscopic Splenic Flexure Mobilization : Beware of the Pancreas” was awarded by ACS (American College of Surgeons) as the best Surgical Video of the year. In the video color grading effects were used to show the embryological planes during the dissection of the splenic flexure of the colon.
In recent years he gave lectures around the world.
This list is not exhaustive, but summarizes some of the international conferences.
- Teacher in Workshop
- Facilitator TaTME Workshop
- Facilitator Laparoscopic Splenic Flexure Mobilization
- Moderator : Session on Minimally Invasive approaches in Rectal Cancer Management
- Presentation : Approaching the rectum from below: Transanal Endoscopic TME
- Presentation : Importance of embryology for colectomy
- Presentation : Splenic flexure mobilization
- Presentation : Stepwise introduction to TaTME
- Presentation : TaTME technique in detail
- Live operatie TaTME
- Presentation : TaTME : Stepwise Approach
- Presentation : TaTME : LAR for very low Rectal Cancer
- Presentation : Splenix flexure mobilization
- Presentation : TaTME : How to approach the rectum from below
- Presentation : TaTME : Safe implementation of a new technique
- Presentation : TaTME : Video Step by Step
- Live chirurgie TaTME
- Presentation : TaTME : Potential complications and how to avoid them?
- Facilitator TaTME Workshop
- Facilitator Laparoscopic Splenic Flexure Mobilization
- Moderator : Session on Minimally Invasive approaches in Rectal Cancer Management
- Presentation : Approaching the rectum from below: Transanal Endoscopic TME
- Presentation : TaTME from anatomy to surgery
- Presentation : TaTME : right and wrong (video-session)
- Live chirurgie laparoscopische rechter hemicolectomie
- Presentation : The ideal 2 team TaTME – Cecil approach (deferred live)
- Presentation : Online platform for TaTME training
- Presentation : TaTME is the solution!
- Presentation: TaTME : Technical steps
- Presentation : Virtual Reality in Unedited Surgical Videos
Course Director
- Presentation : Theatre set-up and equipment
- Presentation : Deferred Live TaTME
- Presentation: Splenic flexure – Different approaches
- Presentation: TaTME : The technique standardized
- Presentation: TME : It’s all about Anatomy and Embryology
- Presentation: Mastering TaTME : Education to Ensure Safe Implementation
- Presentation: Using Video Education to Master Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Presentation : TaTME for Rectal Cancer
- Moderator: Training Pathways for TME surgery
- Presentation : TaTME : Standardizing Training and Technique
- Teacher Workshop TaTME
- Presentation : Update on TaTME
- Presentation : TaTME : How I do it
- Presentation : Stepwise approach to TaTME
- Presentation : Transanal TME : Step by step approach
- Presentation : The Great Debate : Routine diversion is not necessary for pelvic anastomoses
- Presentation : Deferred Live : How can we profit?
- Presentation : Laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization
- Presentation : TaTME : Pitfalls and misadventures
- Presentation : Problems during a left sided dissection : from splenic flexure to the sigmoid fossa
- Presentation: Case demonstration Deferred Live
- Presentation : Pelvic Anastomotic Reconstruction – Techniques and Troubleshooting
- Presentation : Endoscopically assisted ELAPE
- Presentation : Smart Phone Applications in Surgery
- Presentation : Embryologic base of Anatomy and how it relates to Colectomy
- Presentation: Transanal TME – How to get into the correct plane earlier in very distal cancers?
- Presentation : Intersphincteric dissection upside down
- Presentation: Extralevator APR – Doing it from below with the transanal platform
- Presentation : Technical problems during TaTME
- Planned courses were cancelled due to Covid
- Planned courses were cancelled due to Covid
- Presentation: The importance of fecal diversion in anastomotic leakage prevention. Do we have high-quality data?
- Presentation: Laparoscopic splenic flexure mobilization
- Presentation: TaTME for rectal cancer (tandem talk with Antonio Caycedo)
- Presentation: Pelvic anatomy for rectal cancer surgery
- Presentation: Training Pathways and Web/App based support
- Presentation: Transperineal ELAPE - Indications and technique
- Presentation: Embryologic base of anatomy and how it relates to colectomy
- Presentation: Divert or not divert after rectal cancer surgery
- Presentation: Training Pathways and Web/App based support
- Presentation: Embryologic base of anatomy and how it relates to colectomy
- Presentation: Divert or not divert after rectal cancer surgery