Morbidity and mortality after single- and double-stapled colorectal anastomoses in patients with carcinoma of the rectum

Background: The optimal method of restoring intestinal continuity after rectal resection has been controversial. This study aims to compare the morbidity, mortality and survival of patients having either single-stapled (SS) or double-stapled (DS) colorectal anastomoses following resection of the rectum for cancer. Methods: Peri-operative and long-term follow-up data were prospectively documented in all patients undergoing rectal resection for carcinoma with a stapled anastomosis at our institution over a 14-year period. Patients were stratified by anastomotic technique (SS or DS). Peri-operative mortality, complications potentially related to anastomotic technique and cancer-related outcome were compared. Results: Two hundred and thirty-five patients had SS and 65 patients had DS anastomoses. The groups were well matched for age, sex, and tumour stage. Double-stapled anastomoses were used more frequently in the distal third of the rectum (P < 0.001). The distal margin of resection was not influenced by anastomotic technique. Major anastomotic leakage in 2.9% of SS cases was not significantly different from 6.1% of DS cases, and leakage was not influenced by anastomotic technique at any given level of the rectum. Two-year local recurrence rates were not significantly different between groups (SS 3.5%; DS 5.9%). Conclusions: These results suggest that the double-stapling technique is as safe as the single-stapling technique for constructing an anastomosis after excision of the rectum for cancer, in terms of the risk of leakage, the development of an anastomotic stricture, or local recurrence.