腹腔镜下直肠低位前切除经肛门取标本手术八例

目的探讨腹腔镜下直肠低位前切除经肛门取标本手术的安全性和可行性。 方法采用回顾性描述性研究方法,收集2015年4月至2017年3月成都医学院第一附属医院胃肠外科开展的8例腹腔镜下直肠低位前切除经肛门取标本手术患者的临床和病理资料、随访情况。 结果患者平均年龄（66.9±11.7）岁,平均BMI（22.2±4.3）Kg/m²,手术平均用时（247.5±66.3）min,平均出血（22.5±3.8）ml;患者术后首次排气时间为（56.6±11.7）h,术后首次进流食时间为（36.6±7.6）h;TNM分期：Ⅰ期4例,Ⅱ期2例,Ⅲ期2例;一例患者术后出现吻合口漏,患者术后平均住院时间为（15.5±5.1）d;患者随访术后肛门功能正常,未见肿瘤复发和转移征象。 结论腹腔镜下直肠低位前切除经肛门取标本手术安全、可行。     

低位直肠癌腹腔镜TME手术经直肠取出标本影响因素的分析

目的探讨低位直肠癌腹腔镜TME手术经直肠取出标本的限制因素。 方法回顾性分析经纳排标准筛选的于2018年6~12月在同济大学附属东方医院接受低位直肠癌腹腔镜保肛手术的有效病例，利用单因素和多因素logistic分析比较经直肠取标本组（LAR-NOSES）和腹部小切口取标本组（Mini-Lapar）在术前基线资料、经CT/MRI测得肿瘤及盆腔局部骨性及软组织参数和术后临床病理分期等特征的差异。 结果本研究最终共纳入有效患者89例，其中Mini-Lapar组48例，LAR-NOSES组41例，经直肠取标本成功率为46.1%。单因素分析结果显示LAR-NOSES与女性性别（χ²=9.0，P=0.003）、更小的BMI（t=-3.4，P=0.001）、肿瘤距肛缘位置（Z=-2.4，P=0.015）、肿瘤最大直径（t=-3.6，P=0.001）、肿瘤最大纵向长度（t=-3.9，P＜0.001）、直肠最大系膜厚度（t=-2.2，P=0.033）及更大的坐骨棘间径（t=3.0，P=0.004）和坐骨结节间径（t=2.6，P=0.011）显著相关。除pT分期外（χ²=6.6，P=0.038），两组在术后肿瘤病理大体、镜下分型分期及Wexner失禁评分方面差异均无统计学意义（P均＞0.05）。多因素logistic回归分析提示，BMI（OR=1.36，95%CI=1.09~1.70，P=0.006）、肿瘤距肛缘位置（OR=1.66，95%CI=1.03~2.70，P=0.039）、LTD（OR=2.99，95%CI=1.46~6.14，P=0.003）和坐骨棘间径（OR=0.44，95%CI=0.25~0.77，P=0.004）是限制腹腔镜低位直肠NOSES成功实施的独立预测因素。 结论直肠标本的尺寸越小、标本取出所经过的软组织通道越短、所经过的骨性通道尺寸越大越有利于LAR-NOSES的成功实现。     

腹腔镜下全直肠系膜切除经肛门取出标本的直肠癌根治术

目的探讨应用腹腔镜技术经人体自然通路对直肠癌患者行全直肠系膜切除术的可行性。 方法对2011年3至7月,中山大学附属第一医院12例经病理活检确诊的直肠癌患者,在腹腔镜下进行根治性全直肠系膜切除,低位直肠癌8例,高位直肠癌4例;男5例,女7例,平均年龄(61.18±7.5)岁。操作如下：肠系膜下动静脉根部切断,夹闭,切断左结肠和乙状结肠动静脉Ⅰ～Ⅲ分支,保留边缘动脉弓,用腔镜下切割缝合器在肿瘤近端预切断处切断、闭合肠管,经肛门在肿瘤远端预切断处缝闭直肠,在缝闭处下缘切断肠管。扩肛到5～6 cm直径大小,用标本袋保护,经肛门取出标本。近端结肠经肛门拖出并行荷包缝合,置入抵钉座、结扎。远端直肠(肛管)用肛门直肠扩张器显露,经肛门荷包缝合直肠残端,腹腔镜下完成经肛的结肠直肠(肛管)吻合。 结果无一例中转开腹,手术时间平均(123±85)min,平均失血量为87 ml。下切缘为2～5 cm;术后平均住院时间为8 d ;吻合口漏1例,无盆腔感染、肠梗阻、腹腔以及盆腔出血、吻合口出血以及吻合口狭窄等并发症。术后标本评估：全直肠系膜完全切除12例,环周切缘阴性12例,下切缘均为阴性,R0切除12例;平均淋巴结个数为(16.7±4.6)个,阳性淋巴结数为(4.6±1.8)个;高分化腺癌8例,低分化及黏液腺癌4例;TNM分期：Ⅱ期5例,Ⅲ期7例。 结论对直肠癌患者行腹腔镜辅助下根治性全直肠系膜切除术,经自然腔道取出标本,完成低位(超低位)前切除术,不违背肿瘤根治原则,同时在技术上是安全和可行的,可避免另加腹部小切口取出标本。     

经肛吻合器直肠部分切除术治疗重度脱垂性痔病的临床研究

目的评估经肛吻合器直肠部分切除术治疗重度脱垂性痔病的安全性及有效性。 方法2013年10月至2015年4月,运用经肛吻合器直肠部分切除术治疗重度脱垂性痔病48例。记录所有患者手术相关指标、围手术期并发症、住院时间及患者满意度,判断总疗效。 结果48例患者全部顺利完成手术,手术时间平均23.5 min;切除标本宽度平均4.8 cm、体积9.6 ml;26例术中吻合口出血行跨吻合口"8"字缝扎,平均缝扎1.7个点。术后17例出现排尿障碍,其中11例予以药物口服,6例留置导尿。术后当日疼痛评分2.5分,首次排便疼痛评分3.8分;肛门坠胀感评分2.9分;肛门控便功能,术后7天,CCF-FIS评分平均2.3分。住院时间平均7.2天。术后6个月患者满意度9.8分;随访31.3个月,无痔核脱出发生,总有效率100%。 结论经肛吻合器直肠部分切除术治疗重度脱垂性痔病是安全、有效的。     

TEM器械联合塑料保护套经肛门取标本法在直肠癌NOSES中应用七例

目的介绍本中心腹腔镜直肠癌根治术、自然腔道取标本手术（NOSES）中,采用TEM器械联合塑料保护套经肛门取标本的经验,并对其中的技术要点及争议问题进行阐述。 方法回顾分析吉林大学第一医院2017年9月至2018年1月收治的进展期直肠癌手术患者7例,记录肿瘤大小（最大直径）,手术时间,术中出血量,清扫淋巴结数目,术后排气时间等近期疗效指标。 结果本组7例患者均顺利完成直肠癌的NOSES,采用TEM器械联合塑料保护套经肛门取标本获得成功,肿瘤直径5~6.5 cm,手术时间为120~150 min,出血量50~100 ml,清扫淋巴结数目为15~27枚,术后肛门排气时间2~4 d,术后进食流质时间3 d,术后均无并发症发生。 结论TEM器械联合塑料保护套经肛门能取出较大直肠癌标本,降低取出标本难度,取得良好的近期疗效。     

机器人与腹腔镜在低位直肠癌经括约肌间切除术的近期疗效对比

目的比较机器人和腹腔镜在低位直肠癌经括约肌间切除术的近期疗效，探讨机器人经括约肌间切除术的安全性及可行性。 方法回顾性分析2015年10月至2017年10月甘肃省人民医院肛肠科确诊为低位直肠癌并行机器人或者腹腔镜经括约肌间切除患者的人口及临床资料。收集并比较两组的手术时间、术中出血量、中转开腹率、首次通气时间、术后住院时间、并发症、肿瘤距远切缘的距离、环周切缘的阳性数、清扫淋巴结数量等。 结果机器人组流质饮食时间、首次通气时间、术后住院时间较腹腔镜组短（均P<0.05）；机器人组术中失血量多于腹腔镜组（P<0.05）；机器人与腹腔镜组在手术时间上差异无统计学意义，两组的术后并发症的差异无统计学意义，机器人组的总费用高于腹腔镜组（P<0.001）。 结论机器人低位直肠癌经括约肌间切除术是安全、可行的。与腹腔镜组手术相比，机器人组术后肠功能恢复快，住院时间短，近期肿瘤学的结果安全可靠，可作为低位直肠癌治疗的有效手段之一。     

经肛全直肠系膜切除与腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术后肛门功能的比较

目的探索与传统腹腔镜全直肠系膜切除术（lap-TME）相比,经肛全直肠系膜切除术后（TaTME）的肛门功能情况。 方法回顾收集2015年1月至2018年3月在北京大学人民医院胃肠外科施行的直肠癌全直肠系膜切除术患者资料40例,其中TaTME组20例,lap-TME组20例,用直肠低位前切除综合征（LARS）评分量表比较lap-TME与TaTME两组患者术后的肛门功能。 结果TaTME组与lap-TME组相比,术中出血量、手术时间、淋巴结清扫数目、术后住院天数、远切缘和环周切缘等方面差异均无统计学意义（均P>0.05）。术后3个月内TaTME组LARS总评分和各项评分均显著高于lap-TME组（均P<0.05）。术后1个月两组患者在排气控制和稀便漏出两项问题中的得分差异存在统计学意义（均P<0.05）,术后2个月、3个月两组患者在排气控制、稀便漏出与排便后1小时内再次排便三项问题差异均存在统计学意义（均P<0.05）。两组患者在排便次数和排便急迫问题上差异无统计学意义（P>0.05）。 结论在术后早期,接受TaTME手术患者的肛门功能可能差于lap-TME患者,但随着术后时间的延长,经过适当的功能锻炼,TaTME术后肛门功能可在一定程度上得到改善。     

腹腔镜下直肠脱垂悬吊固定治疗直肠全层脱垂32例临床疗效分析

目的探讨腹腔镜下经腹直肠脱垂悬吊固定治疗直肠全层脱垂的临床疗效。 方法回顾性分析南京中医药大学附属南京中医院肛肠科从2010年6月至2018年3月采用腹腔镜下经腹直肠脱垂悬吊固定术治疗中重度直肠全层脱垂32例患者的资料。采用肛门直肠压力测定、Wexner便秘评分及Wexner肛门失禁评分指标评价术前、术后1个月、3个月及随访期间患者的肛门功能。 结果32例直肠全层脱垂患者均在全麻下顺利完成腹腔镜下经腹直肠脱垂悬吊固定手术,无中转开腹。手术时间平均（115.94±23.34）min;术中出血量平均（20.16±10.74）mL。住院时间平均（12.84±2.10）天。术后当天的VAS评分平均（4.56±1.08）分。32例患者腹部切口愈合良好,无肠梗阻、腹腔感染等并发症。32例患者中成功随访31例,随访成功率96.97%（31/32）,随访时间为平均（47.56±31.29）个月。31例患者,在术后6个月以上的痊愈率为90.32%（28/31）。患者术后1个月、3个月及随访期Wexner便秘评分（t=6.135,10.448,10.348;均P<0.05）和患者术后1个月、3个月及随访期Wexner肛门失禁评分（t=7.211,7.789,10.089;均P<0.05）均较术前改善。12例直肠脱垂合并肛门失禁患者术后3月肛管静息压（t=-3.477,P<0.05）和肛管最大收缩压（t=-2.311,P<0.05）均高于术前。 结论腹腔镜下经腹直肠脱垂悬吊固定治疗直肠全层脱垂术后肛门直肠功能改善显著。     

腹腔镜直肠全系膜切除术治疗中、低位直肠癌的临床研究

目的探讨腹腔镜直肠全系膜切除术(TME)治疗中、低位直肠癌的临床疗效。方法选择中、低位直肠癌患者96例,随机分为观察组与对照组各48例,观察组在腹腔镜下行TEM术,对照组则行开腹TME术,对比两组患者临床疗效。结果观察组术后肛门排气时间、住院时间及手术切口长度、术中出血量、术后VAS疼痛评分、围术期并发症发生率、术后性功能及泌尿功能障碍发生率等方面均显著优于对照组(P0.05),而手术时间、保肛率、肿瘤转移及复发率差异均无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论腹腔镜直肠全系膜切除术治疗中、低位直肠癌疗效确切且安全可靠,可在达到传统开腹手术疗效基础上降低并发症发生率。     

基于精准吻合器和刘氏吻合三步法的改良PPS术与传统PPS术治疗超低位直肠癌的非随机病例对照临床研究

目的对比基于精准吻合器和刘氏吻合三步法的改良PPS术与传统PPS术治疗超低位直肠癌的临床疗效。 方法前瞻性收集自2019年6月至2021年5月行超低位直肠癌精准功能保肛术（PPS术）的患者数据,根据手术方式分为传统PPS组（传统组）和基于精准吻合器和刘氏吻合三步法的改良PPS术（改良组）,并对比两组患者的临床资料（包括基线情况、病理学情况、围手术期恢复指标等）。 结果共纳入135例患者资料,其中传统组110例,改良组25例。两组患者基线水平和病理学情况差异均无统计学意义,术中出血（127 mL vs. 125 mL）、手术时间（207 min vs. 219 min）、远切缘距离（1.2 cm vs. 1.3 cm）、术后住院时间（13.5 d vs. 12.4 d）、手术费用（64 661.3 RMB vs. 62 096.8 RMB）等差异均无统计学意义。改良PPS术显著降低预防性造口比例（37.3% vs. 12%,P=0.015）、总体并发症发生率（32.7% vs. 12.0%,P=0.039）和吻合口漏发生率（22.7% vs. 0%,P=0.008）。 结论基于精准吻合器和刘氏吻合三步法的改良PPS术显著降低预防性造口比例和吻合口漏风险,具有广阔的前景和良好的社会经济效益。     

A novel laparoscopic technique for stapled colon and rectal anastomosis

Abstract. Background: We present new techniques of stapling anastomosis at laparoscopic colorectal surgery with retrospective review of data. Methods: A triangulating stapling technique (T method) was performed in 101 laparoscopic colectomies. Adouble stapling technique (DST) with rectal division by a conventional linear stapler (Abd method) was used in 5 cases of upper/middle rectal cancers and subsequent eversion of the distal rectum from the anus (Ev method) was used for 4 low rectal cancers. Four hundred ninety-six colectomies and 280 rectal surgeries were reviewed. Results: Leakage was lower in the T group (0.5%, n=196) than in the hand-sewn group (3.0%, n=233). Leakage of the DST using a laparoscopic linear stapler (12.1%, n=91) was significantly higher than with conventional DST (2.1%, n=189). There was no leakage with either Abd method or Ev method. The T-method is acceptable after laparoscopic colectomy. Conclusion: New methods of rectal division using conventional devices are expected to yield reliable anastomosis at laparoscopic rectal surgery.     

经自然腔道取出标本的全腹腔镜远端胃癌根治术（Uncut Roux-en-Y吻合）七例报告

目的探讨经自然腔道取出标本的全腹腔镜远端胃癌根治术（Uncut Roux-en-Y吻合）的安全性、可行性及近期效果。 方法回顾性分析2017年1月至2017年5月淄博市临淄区人民医院实施的全腹腔镜远端胃癌D2根治术（胃空肠Uncut Roux-en-Y吻合）7例的临床资料。 结果7例病例均在全腹腔镜下成功完成,经自然腔道（阴道或直肠）取标本,无中转开腹,无术中并发症,无手术相关死亡。手术中位时间为280（260~320）min,其中消化道重建时间为45（35~55）min,术中中位失血为90（30~120）ml。术后中位排气时间2（1~3）d,手术后中位住院天数8（7~13）d。无吻合口漏、Roux滞留综合征（RSS）和直肠狭窄等相关并发症发生。 结论腹部无辅助切口经自然腔道取标本的全腹腔镜远端胃癌根治术（胃空肠Uncut Roux-en-Y吻合）安全、可行,既避免术后胆汁反流性胃炎,又避免了Roux-en-Y吻合的Roux滞留综合征;经自然腔道标本取出,进一步减少创伤,减轻术后疼痛,手术时间无明显延长。     

Laparoscopic right-sided colonic resection with transluminal colonoscopic specimen extraction

AIM: To study the transcolonic extraction of the proximally resected colonic specimens by colonoscopic assistance at laparoscopic colonic surgery.METHODS: The diagnoses of our patients were Crohn’s disease, carcinoid of appendix and adenocarcinoma of cecum. We preferred laparoscopic total mesocolic resections. Colon and terminal ileum were divided with endoscopic staplers. A colonoscope was placed per anal and moved proximally in the colon till to reach the colonic closed end under the laparoscopic guidance. The stump of the colon was opened with laparoscopic scissors. A snare of colonoscope was released and the intraperitoneal complete free colonic specimen was grasped. Specimen was moved in to the colon with the help of the laparoscopic graspers and pulled gently through the large bowel and extracted through the anus. The open end of the colon was closed again and the ileal limb and the colon were anastomosed intracorporeally with a 60-mm laparoscopic stapler. The common enterotomy orifice was closed in two layers with a running intracorporeal suture.RESULTS: There were three patients with laparoscopic right-sided colonic resections and their specimens were intended to remove through the remnant colon by colonoscopy but the procedure failed in one patient (adenocarcinoma) due to a bulky mass and the specimen extraction was converted to transvaginal route. All the patients had prior abdominal surgeries and had related adhesions. The operating times were 210, 300 and 500 min. The lengths of the specimens were 13, 17 and 27 cm. In our cases, there were no superficial or deep surgical site infections or any other complications. The patients were discharged uneventfully within 4-5 d and they were asymptomatic after a mean 7.6 mo follow-up (ranged 4-12). As far as we know, there were only 12 cases reported yet on transcolonic extraction of the proximal colonic specimens by colonoscopic assistance after laparoscopic resections. With our cases, success rate of the overall experience in the literature was 80% (12/15) in selected cases.CONCLUSION: Transcolonic specimen extraction for right-sided colonic resection is feasible in selected patients. Both natural orifice surgery and intracorporeal anastomosis avoids mini-laparotomy for specimen extraction or anastomosis.     

Transanal natural orifice specimen extraction for laparoscopic anterior resection in rectal cancer

AIM:To investigate whether transanal natural orifice specimen extraction(NOSE)is a better technique for rectal cancer resection.METHODS:A prospectively designed database of a consecutive series of patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with various tumor-node-metastasis classifcations from March 2011to February 2012 at the First Affliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University was analyzed.Patient selection for transanal specimen extraction and intracorporeal anastomosis was made on the basis of tumor size and distance of rectal lesions from the anal verge.Demographic data,operative parameters,and postoperative outcomes were assessed.RESULTS:None of the patients was converted to laparotomy.Respectively,there were 16 cases in the low anastomosis and fve in the ultralow anastomosis groups.Mean age of the patients was 45.4 years,and mean body mass index was 23.1 kg/m2.Mean distance of the lower edge of the lesion from the anal verge was 8.3 cm.Mean operating time was 132 min,and mean intraoperative blood loss was 84 mL.According to the principle of rectal cancer surgery,we performed D2 lymph node dissection in 13 cases and D3 in eight.Mean lymph nodes harvest was 17.8,and the number of positive lymph nodes was 3.4.Median hospital stay was 6.7 d.No serious postoperative complication occurred except for one anastomotic leakage.All patients remained disease free.Mean Wexner score was 3.7 at11 mo after the operation.CONCLUSION:Transanal NOSE for total laparoscopic low/ultralow anterior resection is feasible,safe and oncologically sound.Further studies with long-term outcomes are needed to explore its potential advantages.     

Laparoscopic high anterior resection with natural orifice specimen extraction (NOSE) for early rectal cancer

Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer requires an abdominal incision to extract the resected specimen. We describe a technique for laparoscopic resection of an early-stage upper rectal cancer in a 51-year-old man followed by transanal specimen delivery, hence avoiding the need for making any additional abdominal incisions for retrieval of the specimen. Pneumoperitoneum was created, followed by medial-tolateral mobilization of the sigmoid colon, and take down of the splenic flexure and division of the inferior mesenteric vessels laparoscopically. The upper rectum distal to the tumour and proximal colon was transected with a laparoscopic stapler. The specimen was retrieved transanally via an opening in the rectal stump. The proximal colon was then delivered transanally and the anvil of the circular stapler inserted before returning it to the pelvic cavity. The rectal stump was transected again just below the opening to close off the stump, and the colorectal anastomosis was then completed intracorporeally. The patient, a 51-year-old male (BMI 18.6 kg/m²) with a 2.5-cm, early-stage posterior rectal cancer 12 cm from the anal verge, underwent the above-described procedure. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. He resumed normal daily activities 1 week after surgery. Histology confirmed a T1N0 upper rectal cancer. In the effort to minimize surgical trauma and postoperative pain, natural orifice specimen extraction techniques have been attempted. This procedure may be applicable to benign tumours and early colorectal cancer, and serves as an intermediate step between laparoscopic and natural orifice surgery.     

EEA stapler in low anterior anastomosis

Preservation of the anal sphincter is a goal of all surgeons treating colorectal malignancies. In the hands of many, transsacral and low anterior resections with end-to-end anastomosis have been associated with high morbidity and leakage. The EEA stapler represents an alternative in re-establishing bowel continuity. Fifty-eight patients with adenocarcinoma of the rectum were treated over a three-year period at Roswell Park Memorial Institute. Forty-nine procedures judged to be curative and nine, palliative. All patients had an EEA stapler introduced through the anus. No protective colostomies were needed. No case of clinically significant anastomotic leakage was seen. Minor spotting or bleeding was documented, but no patient required blood transfusions. Two patients developed constipation; 16 patients had temporary soiling, two had prolonged soiling. Frank incontinence was not observed. The EEA stapler is an evolutionary instrument derived from the Russian PKS model. It is safe, reliable, and simple to operate. With adequate training of the surgeon, precious time can be saved. Intraoperative sigmoidoscopies, as well as postoperative barium enema examinations, were not needed. Caps in the stapled anastomotic line (when present) were easily repaired. It is too early to tell whether anastomotic and local recurrence rates will increase, as more sphincter-saving procedures are performed. Five-year follow up is crucial to establish criteria for the use of the EEA stapler.     

Complete laparoscopic resection of the rectum using natural orifice specimen extraction

AIM: To investigate how complete laparoscopic anterior resection with natural orifice specimen extraction(NOSE), as a novel minimally invasive surgery, compares to conventional laparoscopic surgery.METHODS: Twenty patients who underwent complete laparoscopic anterior resection with NOSE and 50 patients who underwent laparoscopic assisted anterior resection by the conventional method between 2011 and 2012 were studied. Selection for complete laparoscopic anterior resection with NOSE was decided on the basis of tumor size, localization of the tumor, and body mass index. Outcomes related to surgery, including operation time, postoperative wound pain, hospital stay after surgery, the number of totally dissected lymph nodes, postoperative complications(suture failure and wound infection), and anal function, were reviewed retrospectively. Anal function was assessed at 3 and 6 mo after surgery using the Wexner fecal incontinence scoring system.RESULTS: Complete laparoscopic resection with NOSE was performed to completion in all 20 patients. There was no patient emergency that required conversion to conventional laparoscopic surgery or open surgery. The comparison between complete laparoscopic resection with NOSE and conventional laparoscopic surgery showed no significant differences in the maximal diameter of the tumor, number of totally dissected lymph nodes, bleeding volume, mean operation time, time to start of oral ingestion, postoperative hospital stay, and postoperative complications. On the other hand, with regard to pain after epidural anesthesia, the total usage of analgesia in this novel surgical technique was 1.85 ± 1.8 times, whereas it was 5.89 ± 2.86 in conventional laparoscopic surgery(P < 0.001). The postoperative pain period was 1.9 ± 1.9 d in this novel surgical technique, whereas it was 3.43 ± 1.41 d in conventional laparoscopic surgery(P < 0.004). In complete laparoscopic surgery with NOSE, the mean postoperative follow-up period was 20 mo(range: 12-30 mo). Neither local recurrence nor remote metastasis was observed during the follow-up period.CONCLUSION: Complete laparoscopic anterior resection using NOSE does not require any incision and has excellent cosmetic properties, with mitigated postoperative pain.     

Double stapling technique for low anterior resection

A report is given on 26 patients (18 men and 8 women) undergoing low anterior resection for carcinoma of the rectum, using both the TA 55 and EEA staplers. The average age was 65 years (range, 45 to 92 years). The preoperative level of the lesion from the anal verge averaged 9.8 cm (range, 4 to 17 cm). All had well-differentiated or moderately well-differentiated lesions. All lesions were removed using the following technique. The TA 55 stapler was placed across the lower rectum at the distal resection margin. The EEA stapler was introduced into the rectum with the anvil removed. The shaft was then passed through the rectum stump either through or immediately adjacent to the staple line. The anvil was refitted and the anastomosis completed between the more proximal colon and the rectal stump. A defunctioning colostomy was employed in only one patient. There has been no mortality. Follow-up has been 2 to 16 months, and there has been no early recurrence. The postoperative level of the anastomosis averaged 5.5 cm (range, 2 to 11 cm). Stapler-related complications occurred in three patients. One of these patients developed a postoperative anastomotic leak, which necessitated a defunctioning colostomy. Two anastomotic strictures occurred following either an anastomotic leak or postoperative radiation therapy. Early incontinence to gas, night-time anal soilage, and urgency occurred in eight patients (30 per cent). These symptoms improved or disappeared within three months following operation. The authors' preliminary experience has shown the double stapling technique to have definite advantages. It obviates the use of lower purse-string suture and permits a lower and easier anastomosis, It avoids the problem of disparity of sizes of the two ends of the bowel. The rectum is not opened and fecal spillage is minimized. To date, results have been good without excessive complications. Read at the meeting of the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons, San Francisco, California, May 2 to 6, 1982.