[Mechanical anastomoses in gastrointestinal surgery]

The authors present an account of possibilities to use a mechanical anastomosis by means of staplers in gastrointestinal surgery and the advantages of this procedure. It is a rapid, simple, and above all, reliable technique with a minimal percentage of postoperative complications. Despite the relatively high cost its importance is invaluable in particular in surgery of the oesophagus, cardia and in low resections of the rectum where it is possible to fix a reliable anastomosis up to 2 cm from the linea dentata. The authors evaluate 95 mechanical anastomoses, incl. three where during the postoperative period dehiscence occurred.