A new approach to rectal anastomotic stricture.

A technique is presented that can serve as a solution for localized postoperative rectal stricture. This procedure was used after the failure of manual and instrumental dilatations. It consisted of cutting the prominent plication of the stricture, using the EEA stapler. Five patients successfully underwent this operation without morbidity or mortality, three after very low anterior resection and two after total colectomy, mucosal proctectomy, and ileoanal anastomosis.