THE ENDO-GIA STAPLER FOR THE SIDE-TO-SIDE COLORECTAL ANASTOMOSIS IN THE DUHAMEL OPERATION

A new technical modification of the Duhamel operation for construction of the side-to-side colorectal anastomosis is reported. A 2 1/2-year- old boy was diagnosed as having Hirschsprung's disease affecting the r ectum and sigmoid colon. A Duhamel operation was performed with three modifications of the technique described by Lester W. Martin: the side -to-side colorectal anastomosis was performed with an Endo-GIA 30 stap ler (Auto Suture; United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, Conn.) in an inverted V-shaped triangular manner; the remnant of the rectal s tump was excised just above the Endo-GIA anastomosis, thus preserving only the rectal ampulla; and the rectal stump was left closed without being anastomosed to the descending colon. The postoperative functiona l results were excellent 6 months after the operation.