A novel circumferential continuous reinforcing suture for anastomosis after laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer and sigmoid cancer: a retrospective case-controlled study

Abstract

Introduction: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a novel method for anastomosis reinforcement to minimize the occurrence of anastomotic complications after surgical resection of rectal and sigmoid cancer.

Methods: We recruited 378 patients who underwent laparoscopic rectal anterior resection of rectal cancer and sigmoid cancer in SYSUCC. The occurrence rates of intraoperative bleeding, operation time, and postoperative anastomotic complications were compared between the treatment group receiving anastomotic reinforcement and the control group without anastomotic reinforcement.

Results: The incidence of anastomotic leakage in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group (1.59% vs. 11.64%, p < 0.001). Following the application of inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) to adjust for factors influencing the occurrence of anastomotic leakage, the incidence of anastomotic leakage remained significantly lower in the treatment group compared to the control group (2.54% vs. 12.08%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion: The circumferential continuous anastomosis reinforcing suture method, recommended for laparoscopic surgery for rectal and sigmoid cancer, has the potential to effectively minimize the occurrence of anastomotic complications.

Keywords: Anastomotic leakage; Anastomotic reinforcement; Anterior rectal resection.