Specific technical note concerning the preparation of distal rectal anastomoses

The present increase of distal conolorectal anastomoses is certainly due to the desire of surgeons to conserve the natural routes of intestinal transit. With the exception of unusual, and in some cases debateable indications, such as haemorrhagic rectocolitis or Crohn's disease, most distal anastomoses involve cancer. At present, the main interest in distal rectal anastomoses is focussed on the choice of operating technique: manual or mechanical. In the opinion of the author, the decisive factor in favour of the use of Staplers was the substantial reduction of the incidence of dehiscence from 16 to 5 percent.