Electrocoagulation on a fragment of anterior abdominal rectal muscle for the control of presacral bleeding during rectal resection

Introduction: Presacral venous haemorrhage during rectal movement is low, but is often massive, and even fatal. Our objective is the "in vitro" determination of the results of electrocoagulation applied to a fragment of muscle on the sacral bone surface during rectal resection due to a malignant neoplasm of the rectum. Material and method: Single-pole coagulation was applied "in vitro" with the selector at maximum power on a 2 x 2 cms muscle fragment, applied to the anterior side of the IV bleeding of the presacral venous plexus. Results: In the "in vitro" study, boiling point was reached in 90 seconds from applying the single-pole current on the muscle fragment. Electrocoagulation was applied to a 2 x 2 cm rectal muscle fragment in 6 patients with presacral venous haemorrhage, using pressure on the surface of the presacral bone, with the stopping of the bleeding being achieved in all cases. Conclusions: The use of indirect electrocoagulation on a fragment of the rectus abdominis muscle is a straightforward and highly effective technique for controlling presacral venous haemorrhage. (C) 2011 AEC. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.