Protecting the high-risk rectal anastomosis.

Anastomotic leakage is a serious complication of colonic surgery, and contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. A new technique has been developed to reduce the danger from such leaks, which involves exteriorizing a loop of transverse colon without opeining it. Should a leak develop, this loop can be transformed into a colostomy; otherwise, it can be easily remimplanted into the abdomen once the bowel is healed.