Avoidance of permanent colostomy in pelvic malignancy using the surgical stapler.

The potential for reducing the number of gynecologic oncology patients left with a permanent colostomy may be achieved by the use of the end-to-end anastomosis (EEA) automatic surgical stapler. This instrument allows a rectocolonic anastomosis at a very low level (below the levator muscles), which is very difficult and poorly performed by hand-suture techniques. This report presents the author's experience with 6 patients in whom a low rectocolonic anastomosis was performed with the EEA surgical stapler.