[Sutureless compression anastomosis of the distal colon and rectum. An expanded report of experiences with a total of 140 patients].

Based on animal experiments with a sutureless anastomosis, the sutureless compression anastomotic technique (AKA) was introduced to colorectal surgery. The procedure was applied to 140 patients following resections of the distal colon and rectum. The outcome was controlled prospectively. Anastomosis fistulae occurred in 8 out of 140 patients (5.7%). Excluding the 16 patients with a primary protective colostomy the leakage rate was 6.4%. Out of 67 patients with an anastomosis height of 10 cm or less, 6 developed fistulae (8.9%). Excluding the 11 patients with primary colostomy the leakage rate was 10.7%. 3 patients showed clinically inapparent fistulae in the routinely performed gastrografin enema. The clinical application of the compression-anastomotic technique revealed no disadvantage. The technique seems to have advantages due to more areactive anastomosis healing.