Advantages of mechanical anastomosis in rectal cancer surgery

Rectal oncological pathology usually involves surgical treatment, which presents a relatively high degree of difficulty in terms of the surgical approach. With the development of minimally invasive surgery, technology has also diversified its possibilities for performing digestive anastomoses, noting significant advances in the techniques currently available for performing mechanical anastomoses. The evolution of mechanical sutures through the use of staplers has become a true landmark of technological progress on this topic, as they have led to significant improvements in both the operative technique and the therapeutic results obtained. The aim of this paper is to highlight the advantages of using staplers in rectal surgery, which seem to contribute to a lower percentage of postoperative complications (lower incidences of suppuration, fistulae and evisceration) and a lower rate of mortality. The use of mechanical anastomoses has also increased the technical possibilities of performing lower anastomoses, thus reducing the number of colostomies and the hospitalization period, aspects that have improved the compliance of patients who require major oncological surgical interventions.