Carlos A. Pecina-Mendoza, Departamento de Proctología, IMSS HGR2, Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México
Óscar E. Olvera-Flores, Departamento de Coloproctología, IMSS, CMNO, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Óscar Durán-Anguiano, Departamento de Coloproctología, IMSS, CMNO, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Fernando Font-Aguilar, Departamento de Coloproctología, IMSS, CMNO, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Carmen G. Cardiel-Narváez, Departamento de Proctología, IMSS HGR2 Querétero, Querétaro, México
Iván Hernández-Sánchez, Departamento de Coloproctología, IMSS, CMNO, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México
Iván E. Pérez-Vázquez, Departamento de Proctología, IMSS HGR 23, Ensenada, Baja California, México
José Núñez-Aguilar, Departamento de Proctología, IMSS HGR 23, Ensenada, Baja California, México
Objective: To determine the relationship between the height of anastomotic donuts and the disruption of mechanical colorectal anastomoses. Method: A cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study conducted through a review of medical records of patients over 18 years of age who underwent colorectal anastomosis using a circular stapler at the Specialty Hospital of the Centro Médico Nacional de Occidente (National Medical Center of the West) of the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Social Security Institute), between October 2019 and October 2024. Results: Ninety-eight patients were included—51% men—with a mean age of 56 years. The majority presented with comorbidities, with arterial hypertension and smoking being the most frequent. Sixty-three percent of the anastomoses were performed in the upper rectum. Consistent with the literature, donuts with a height of < 4 mm were associated with a higher incidence of anastomotic leakage, demonstrating a statistically significant difference (odds ratio: 5.74). Conclusions: The height of the anastomotic donuts could be considered a useful predictive factor for colorectal anastomosis dehiscence, thereby enabling the implementation of more effective intraoperative preventive measures.
Keywords: Colorectal surgery. Colorectal anastomosis. Circular stapler. Anastomotic donuts. Bowel disruption. Postoperative complications.
