Stapled anastomosis in colorectal surgery

The authors review their experience with stapled anastomosis in colorectal and ileorectal resections for malignant and benign lesions of the large bowel. They describe the technique and results in a series of 49 patients (24 with cancer of the rectum and rectosigmoid junction; six with familial polyposis, associated with cancer in four; 12 with chagastic megacolon; three, Crohn's disease; two, ulcerative colitis; and one each, diverticular sigmoiditis and ischemic sigmoiditis). Anterior resection was performed in 38 patients and total colectomy with ileorectal anastomosis in 11. Main complications and mortality are presented. They conclude that stapled anastomosis is an efficient method for intestinal reconstruction after resection for malignant and benign lesions of the large bowel.