Late Disruption of Stapled Anastomosis – When and Why

Abstract

A case of late disruption of a stapled anastomosis (EEA) after low anterior resection for Duke’s B carcinoma of the midrectum is presented. The integrity of the anastomosis was proven unequivocally in the early post-operative course. Almost 3 months postoperatively the patient entered a state of septic shock and examination showed acute abdomen. Plain-abdomen X ray disclosed distortion of the ring of staples, and upon operation late disruption of the anastomosis was found. The relevant literature, including the few published case reports of this rare complication and experimental studies on the healing process of stapled anastomosis, has been reviewed.