RT Journal
A1 DORSEY JS, STONE RM
T1 LOw anterior anastomosis with surgical stapler
JF Archives of Surgery
JO Archives of Surgery
YR 1979
FD May 1
VO 114
IS 5
SP 639
OP 639
DO 10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370290089021
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.1979.01370290089021
AB To the Editor.—The article by Lepreau in the December 1978 issue of the Archives (113:1479) describes a technique for low anterior resection using a mechanical stapling device. Between January 1978 and September 1978, at four of our University Hospitals, 20 patients (16 male, 4 female) underwent low anterior resections performed with the auto suture model EEA Anastomotic Stapler. The resected lesions were 8 to 13 cm above the anal verge, and the completed anastomosis was 5 to 8 cm above the anal verge. Four patients required loop transverse colostomies at the time of resection because of technical difficulties with the anastomosis.Postoperatively there were ten clinically apparent anastomotic leaks. Three were treated with loop transverse colostomies and seven were managed conservatively. All of the loop colostomies (seven) were ultimately closed. All patients (20) were ultimately continent.The technical difficulties are as outlined by Lepreau. We have also encountered difficulty