[Experiences with the Soviet suture stapler SPTU in colon and and rectum surgery. Controlled study of 94 patients].

In a controlled study the practicability, tightness of the anastomosis and complications in the p.o. period were analyzed in a total 94 colon and rectum anastomoses by making use of the SPTU-model. 28% of the patients operated in this way were more than 70 years old, the average age came up to 63.3 years. The incidence of anastomotic leakage after low anterior resection was 24% and 5.5% after high anterior resection. 17 per cent of the patients suffered from complications during the postoperative period and 2 patients (2.1 per cent) came to death. The results of 36 high and 58 low anterior resections justify the further use of the SPTU auto-suture apparatus.