title: Sphincter-saving excision for cancers of the middle and lower parts of the rectum.
abstract: Currently four methods of sphincter-saving excision are in vogue for carcinomas of the middle and lower rectum--low anterior resection with or without the aid of the circular stapler, abdomino-sacral (or abdomino-transphincteric) resection, abdomino-anal resection with endocavitary sutured colorectal or colo-anal anastomosis, and local excision (or destruction by diathermy or contact irradiation). The relative advantages and--as far as is known--the results of these different methods are examined with special reference to anterior resection using the circular stapler, which is now by far the most popular choice.
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008722:Methods; D012004:Rectal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D013528:Surgical Staplers