[Postoperative anastomotic stenosis after anterior resection of the sigmoid colon and rectum (author's transl)].

149 patients underwent anterior resection of the sigmoid colon and the rectum with decompression-transverse colostomy. In 10 cases stenosis of the anastomosis was observed. The development of the stenosis is believed to have been caused by a small leak in the anastomosis, leading to secondary bacterial infection and hence scar formation. It is suggested that a one layer through and through silk suture promotes the eventual stenosis.