Early complications after low anterior resection for rectal cancer using the EEA stapling device. A prospective trial

Complications following 178 low anterior resections for rectal carcinoma with the EEA autosuture device are reported prospectively. The operative mortality was 2.8 percent. Clinical anastomotic leakage developed in 27 patients, but in none of the 30 patients over 76 years of age. Two of the five hospital deaths were related to leakage. Long-term steroid treatment and previous pelvic radiotherapy were associated with increased risk of leakage. Severe stenosis following anastomotic leakage was seen in one patient. Intraoperative diverting colostomy was done in 16 patients, but no benefit could be demonstrated. It was concluded that use of the upper sigmoid colon for anastomosis probably is not associated with a higher mortality and morbidity than that after more extensive resections reported in the literature. Future randomized trials should exclude very old patients, in whom no leak was seen, when the upper sigmoid colon was used for stapling after low anterior resection.