Abdominal stapled side-to-end anastomosis (Baker type) in low and high anterior resection: experiences and results in 69 consecutive patients at a regional general hospital in Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The technique of transanally introducing a circular stapled device to accomplish colorectal anastomoses has been widely used. However, the widespread popularity of this technique may have created the potential of anal sphincter injury during transanal insertion of the anastomosing stapler. Thus, to avoid the risk of anal sphincter injury during anal manipulation, we have been performing an abdominal approach, namely abdominal stapled side-to-end anastomosis (ASSEA) using a Purstring and premium curved EEA stapler in low and high anterior resection. This study will present our experience and results of consecutive resections.

METHODS: ASSEA following a resection of the rectum and sigmoid colon for carcinomas was consecutively performed between October 1998 and May 2002. Age, sex, pre-operative anal function, the TNM classification by the UICC rules, operative methods, postoperative morbidity, mortality, anal function and bowel frequency were evaluated.

RESULTS: Sixty-nine consecutive patients underwent a resection of the rectum and sigmoid colon with ASSEA. There were three (4.3%) clinical anastomotic leakages in the cases studied. Anastomoses that were located above the peritoneal reflection leaked in one (2.5%) of 40 cases, while anastomoses below the peritoneal reflection leaked in two (6.9%) of 29 cases. A diverting stoma was performed in five (17%) of the 29 cases with low anastomosis. Postoperative anal function was stable without soiling or faecal leakage and bowel frequency two months after surgery was less than four times in all 61 patients. There was no postoperative mortality related to the anastomosis.

CONCLUSIONS: Abdominal stapled side-to-end anastomosis (Baker type) was found to be a safe and relatively easy method in both low and high anterior resection in association with a good quality of life.