The Use of a Circular Side Stapling Technique in Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection for Rectal Cancer: Experience of 30 Serial Cases.

The double-stapling technique using a circular stapler (CS) to create an end-to-end anastomosis is currently used widely in laparoscopic-assisted rectal surgery. However, a high rate of anastomotic failure has been reported. We report new side-to-side anastomosis creation using a CS, the so-called circular side stapling technique (CST). After excising the rectum at the oral and anal sides of the tumor with a linear stapler, a side-to-side colorectal anastomosis was made on the anterior wall of the rectosigmoid colon and the anterior or posterior wall of the rectum with a CS. Between 2012 and 2013, we recorded 30 serial cases of rectal-sigmoid or rectal cancer that were treated with laparoscopic-assisted surgeries using this method. In the 30 cases, the mean age was 68 ± 12 years, operating time was 288 ± 80 minutes, and blood loss was 66 ± 67 mL. None of the patients suffered from anastomosis leakage or postoperative anastomotic bleeding, and none complained of their stool habits. Three months after the last surgery in this cohort, no anastomosis strictures were reported. Based on these results, we propose an alternative method of side-to-side anastomosis for low anterior resection by using a CS to prevent staple overlap. Our experience indicates that the CST is easy and safe. Therefore, this method is a useful alternative to the current method used in laparoscopic surgery.