Sliding functional end-to-end anastomosis for colorectal surgery

Conventional functional end-to-end anastomosis (FEEA) is not indicated for left hemicolectomy, sigmoidectomy, and anterior resection. However, our original anastomosis with stapling devices (SFEEA) can be performed at any site in the intestine. We report our novel surgical technique compared with the double stapling technique (DST). Between January 2001 and August 2003, anterior resection with stapling devices was performed in 74 patients (DST, 54; SFEEA, 20). The SEEEA group was greater than the DST group in operation time and significant intraoperative blood loss. In the DST group, two postoperative complications (3.7%) occurred (leakage and stenosis). On the other hand, no complications were noted in the SFEEA group. Our novel technique for colorectal anastomosis, SFEEA, allows safe, wide, physiological, and clean anastomosis compared with FEEA.