[Technic of rectum anastomoses in rectum resection. A controlled study: instrumental suture versus hand suture]

Stapler and manual sutures in rectal end-to-end anastomoses were compared in a controlled trial. The following results were obtained: For the analysis the cases naturally separated into three groups, A (manual suture), B (planned stapler suture) and WD ("withdrawn" cases, from both groups, in which continence could be maintained only with a stapler suture). The distribution of the WD cases in dependence on localization and sex varied significantly from groups A and B, while A and B remained comparable, in spite of the WD cases. The analysis of the date showed no, or only slight, clinical differences. In a comparison of the two stapler groups B and WD, significantly more suture dehiscences, colocutaneous fistulae and post-operative disturbances in bladder function were found in group WD. As a general conclusion we can state that: In comparable anastomosis localizations it is possible to achieve almost the same clinical results with both suture techniques. With a circular stapler it is, however, technically possible to perform rectum resections in cases in which this was not previously possible, particularly in men with a narrow pelvis and a stale pelvic floor. To what extent this still is an advantage after the local recurrences are taken into consideration remains to be seen.