The Endo-GIA stapler for the side-to-side colorectal anastomosis in the Duhamel operation

A new technical modification of the Duhamel operation for construction of the side-to-side colorectal anastomosis is reported. A 21/2-year-old boy was duagnosed as having Hirschsprung's disease affecting the rectum and sigmoid colon. A Duhamel operation was performed with three modifications of the technique described by Lester W. Martin: the side-to-side colorectal anastomosis was performed with an Endo-GIA 30 stapler (Auto Suture; United States Surgical Corporation, Norwalk, Conn.) in an inverted V-shaped triangular manner; the remnant of the rectal stump was excited just above the Endo-GIA anastomosis, thus preserving only the rectal ampulla; and the rectal stump was left closed without being anstomosed to the descending colon. The postoperative functional results were excellent 6 months after the operation.