: A turning point occurred in 1948 when Clifford Dukes performed an anterior rectal resection that preserved the anal sphincter, moving away from the more radical Miles operation (abdominoperineal resection) that required a permanent stoma.
: In the 1800s, procedures like anal dilation were popularized as alternatives to painful, unstandardized surgeries. Colon and Rectal Surgery Anorectal Operations
The history of anorectal surgery dates back to 1500 BC, with early treatments for rectal prolapse using bandages and cauterization. Significant shifts occurred in the 19th and 20th centuries as anatomical understanding improved. : A turning point occurred in 1948 when