Abstract
From March 1979 to January 1983, 250 consecutive patients underwent a left colectomy (LC; n = 119) or an anterior resection (ARR; n = 131). The colorectal anastomoses were constructed with the EEA stapler. After ARR, 56 sutures were low (at 7 cm or less from the dentate line) and 75 high. 8% of the sutures would have been probably impossible without the gun. The mortality rate was 2.8%. At autopsy, only 1 death could be related to an intestinal problem. Anastomotic leaks were observed in 6% of the cases, all after ARR (11.4%). The leaks were twice as frequent after low sutures (16%) than after high sutures (8%). Late severe consequences developed in only 2 patients. The reliability of the results was confirmed at long term. The majority of the patients were symptom-free as early as 6 months after the operation, and X-ray controls exhibited a large normal suture in about 70% of the patients. The EEA appears to be a satisfactory means of performing safe low colorectal sutures.
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