Single-layer anastomosis in surgery of the large bowel. A prospective study on 316 cases in a university hospital.

A prospective study was undertaken to evaluate the results of a single layer appositional technique for large bowel anastomoses used in a University Hospital. 316 patients were entered during an 18-month period. Anastomoses were situated within the peritoneal cavity in 277 patients and below the peritoneal reflection in 39. No covering stoma was made. The incidence of clinical leakage was 1.6% and of wound infection 1.9%. These results compare favourably with those obtained by stapling. For intraperitoneal anastomoses and high anterior resection manual suture remains the standard technique and is less expensive than stapling. For low rectal tumours, there is still debate on the relative merits of stapling and various manual techniques of colo-anal anastomosis in terms of morbidity, tumour clearance and functional results.