Completely staple-free hand-sewn laparoscopic anastomosis in colorectal surgery

Colonic continuity following a laparoscopic left hemicolectomy is usually performed by using a circular stapler to achieve end-to-end colorectal anastomosis. However, not much consideration is given to the costs of this technique and the long-term risk of stenosis. In this paper, we report the first case of a completely staple-free hand-sewn laparoscopic colonic anastomosis (CSHLCA) following a laparoscopic left hemicolectomy for cancer. Total operative time was 170 minutes, and the time to perform the anastomosis was 38 minutes. The postoperative stay was uneventful, with a total hospital stay of 6 days. CSHLCA is feasible and can lower the cost of the laparoscopic procedure. It may be considered in countries with limited access to mechanical staplers.