USE OF STAPLING DEVICES IN THE LOWER GAST ROINTESTINAL-TRACT

Practicability and indication for continuity preserving surgery increa se by the use of staplers in the lower gastrointestinal tract. The mea n rate of complications for the deep colorectal and colo-anal anastomo sis decreased. Locoregional relapses occur as often as with other tech niques, when the criteria of radicality have been observed. Stenoses a re prevalently due to complications of extraperitoneal anastomoses. In higher large bowel sections, only a few surgeons favor the use of sta plers, as the risk for the patient increases without offering particul ar advantages. The double stapling technique in deep anterior resectio n is possible for small tumors and a large pelvis. For colonic pouches linear staplers are completed by circular staplers for the subsequent pouchanal anastomosis. Studies are running, actually, regarding indic ation of the colonic pouch.