[Comparison of manual and mechanical anastomosis in colorectal surgery].

Between 1981 and 1989, 494 patients had anastomosis involving the colon or rectum (233 ileo-colonic, 156 colo-colonic, 96 colo-rectal and 9 ileo-rectal) in our Institute. 383 patients had manual anastomosis (Group 1), 111 patients had stapled anastomosis (Group 2). There was no statistically significant difference when comparing major anastomotic complications, reoperations and operative mortality of stapled and manual anastomoses. In group 1 a significant increase in complication was related to the presence of obstruction (p. less than 0.01), and to emergency surgery (p less than 0.01). In Group 2 malnutrition had a significant effect on anastomotic complications (p less than 0.01). Therefore, colonic obstruction, emergency surgery and malnutrition have a significant role in anastomotic complications, and particular care should be taken when these factors are present.