Laparoscopic Low Anterior Resection with Distal Rectal Washout Using the New Device of Gut-clamper

Background: Intraoperative rectal washout is considered to be important in colorectal surgery, but it is rather difficult in laparoscopic surgery. To resolve the problem, a new device called gut-clamper have invented for complete washout of the rectum during the laparoscopic low anterior resection. Methods: Forty patients with rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection by a single skilled operator. Results: Thirty patients with rectal cancer underwent laparoscopic low anterior resection with colorectal washout using gut-clamper. There was one complication of leakage in ten cases underwent without using gut-clamper. The number of times using laparoscopic staplers was 1.9±1.0 in the cases using gut-clamper, while that was 3.4 ± 1.1 in the cases without using gut-clamper. Conclusion: This device of gut-clamper is easy and safe as well as reasonable physically and economically for intra-operative rectal washout including laparoscopic colorectal resection.