Omega Suture for a Single Staple Line Rectal Anastomosis after Sigmoid Resection; a Controlled Prospective Pilot Study

Introduction: In cases of stapled colorectal and ileorectal anastomosis employing surgical staplers, the “dogears”caused by the intersection of staple lines are thought to be the location of anastomotic leak ; hence, theimportance of their excision.Aim of work: Reevaluating the omega suture technique to resect the rectal staple line, along with those “dogears”,within the circular stapler’s distal doughnut is the goal of the study.Patients and methods: For the proposed technique of applying omega suture prior to firing the circular stapler,thirty (30) patients with a variety of indications for sigmoid resection were recruited. Their data within a monthpostoperatively were compared to those of thirty “correlated” patients in our database.Results: The study group saw a lower incidence of anastomotic leak, and the two groups’ post-operative courseswere similar.Conclusion: For improved rectal anastomosis, it is recommended to add an omega stitch to the distal (Rectal)staple line before the circular stapler’s last firing.