Unexpected Findings: Anastomotic “Donut” Problems – Incomplete or Missing Donuts with a Negative Leak Test

Unexpected findings are not infrequently encountered, either intraoperatively or in the postoperative settings. Stapled anastomoses are common, but unfortunately, they don’t always come out the way you want. A positive air leak is one thing, but this chapter will discuss options for the case of incomplete or missing donuts following a stapled anastomosis and a negative air leak test.