Facilitating Intracorporeal Colorectal Anastomoses

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES An experimental study was undertaken to evaluate whether a previously described technique for laparoscopic sigmoid resection with intracorporeal resection-anastomosis and specimen removal via a suprapubic incision could be facilitated and applied to the rectum. METHODS Ten domestic pigs (median weight 41 kg) underwent low anterior resection of the rectum, which was transected with an articulating endoscopic stapler. Pursestring sutures were fashioned intracorporeally with a laparoscopic pursestring clamp. The anvil of a circular stapler was inserted through a 33 mm port into the colon and pursestring tied intracorporeally. A circular gun with a spike fixed to its shaft was introduced per anum and a double-stapled anastomosis performed. RESULTS Complete doughnuts were obtained in all cases and anastomoses were all methylene blue tight. All porcine subjects had an uneventful 5-week postoperative course. The median anastomotic level from the anal verge was 5.2 cm. Histology of colorectal anastomoses revealed healing mucosa. CONCLUSIONS The use of articulating endoscopic stapler, laparoscopic pursestring clamp, and circular stapler with a spike fixed to its shaft seems to facilitate a previously described intracorporeal approach to sigmoid resection which was safely applied to the rectum in a porcine model.