title: An old head on new shoulders.
abstract: A modified stapling technique for anterior resection is described. A pursestring suture is placed in the proximal colon after resection of the specimen; the head of a stapling gun is detached from the stapler and inserted into the proximal bowel and the pursestring suture is tied. A pursestring suture is placed in the rectal stump. A stapling device head from a previous case is autoclaved and then fitted to the stapling device to allow safe insertion per anum: this head is discarded as soon as the distal pursestring is tied. The anastomosis is then completed in the usual way. This technique has been used successfully in twenty-one cases with minimal morbidity and no mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Good Hope NHS Trust Hospital, West Midlands, UK.
authors.forename: I L
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Badger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Allan
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D013528:Surgical Staplers