A novel laparoscopic technique for stapled colon and rectal anastomosis

We present new techniques of stapling anastomosis at laparoscopic colorectal surgery with retrospective review of data. A triangulating stapling technique (T method) was performed in 101 laparoscopic colectomies. Adouble stapling technique (DST) with rectal division by a conventional linear stapler (Abd method) was used in 5 cases of upper/middle rectal cancers and subsequent eversion of the distal rectum from the anus (Ev method) was used for 4 low rectal cancers. Four hundred ninety-six colectomies and 280 rectal surgeries were reviewed. Leakage was lower in the T group (0.5%, n=196) than in the hand-sewn group (3.0%, n=233). Leakage of the DST using a laparoscopic linear stapler (12.1%, n=91) was significantly higher than with conventional DST (2.1%, n=189). There was no leakage with either Abd method or Ev method. The T-method is acceptable after laparoscopic colectomy. New methods of rectal division using conventional devices are expected to yield reliable anastomosis at laparoscopic rectal surgery.