[Self-healing cecal fistulas for securing anastomoses of the colon and rectum--is this still indicated?]

During a period of 2.5 years self-healing coecostomies according to Stelzner (1970) were applied in 48 elective procedures to the left colon. The following operations were done by 16 different surgeons: left side hemicolectomy 5, sigma resection 24, anterior resection of the rectum 19, 13 of which had anastomoses less than 8 cm.Mean postoperative hospital care 25.3 days, no clinical manifestation of anastomotic leaks, first passing of stool after a mean of 8.5 days. Lethality of 4.2% independent of anastomoses, spontaneous occlusion of fistulae after 42 +/- 26 days. 21% local not life-endangering complications occurred.