Drainage of a pelvic collection with the Heald Silastic Anal Stent

The Heald Silastic Anal Stent (HSAS) was designed to protect a newly constructed low colorectal anastomosis by keeping the anus open for up to 10 days postoperatively, and has also been used in combination with percutaneous drainage to treat a leak from a low rectal anastomosis. We describe a technique in two patients where the HSAS alone allowed adequate drainage of a leaking low colorectal anastomosis.