Between 1.1. 1984-31.12. 1989, 263 rectal carcinomas were operated at the Department of Surgery, St. Veit/Glan. The resection rate was 68.4%, the excision rate was 27.8%, other procedures were carried out in 3.8%. Staple devices were used for all anastomoses following rectum resection. Whenever technically possible, the single-stapled procedure was used (EEA, ILS). For difficult or very low anastomoses, the double-stapled technique (DST) was utilized. The DST was employed in 47 cases. This approach contributed essentially to a relatively high resection rate at our department.