The rectal tube is inserted after anesthesia is induced when resecting the proximal 2/3 of colon and delayed until after anastomosis is completed for the distal 1/3 of the colon and the rectum.

All operations featuring a colonic anastomosis and an intraoperative MBE were studied (n = 229). Intraoperative MBE via a rectal tube was used as the diagnostic test. Intraoperative leak (IOL ...