Outcome of patients with rectal cancer treated by stapled anterior resection

The mortality, morbidity and long-term survival in stapled anterior resection for rectal carcinoma has been analysed in 74 patients. Twelve patients were Dukes' A, 26 B, 29 C, and 7 'D' (submitted to hepatic resection). Operative mortality rate was 3 per cent. Three patients (4 per cent) had clinical anastomotic leakage. Two patients (3 per cent) developed anastomotic stenosis. Local recurrence was present in three patients (4 per cent). The mean (+/- s.e.m.) overall survival rate at 5 years was 67 +/- 6 per cent. There was no significant difference in survival between Dukes' B and C (70 +/- 10 per cent versus 59 +/- 10 per cent, P = 0.209). Patients with absent local spread had a significantly better 5-year survival rate than those with positive local lymph nodes (80 +/- 7 per cent versus 54 +/- 9 per cent, P less than 0.01). The present results confirm the satisfactory use of the EEA stapler device for colorectal anastomoses in rectal cancer and in patients with resectable liver metastasis.