ORIGINAL ARTICLES   

Chirurgia 2003 August;16(4):135-8

Copyright © 2003 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Double biofragmentable ring anastomoses after digestive tract resections

Sefr R., Penka I., Jagos F., Kaplan Z., Tvruzek J.

Aim. The biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) has been accepted as a valuable alternative to conventional suturing and stapling techniques. However, doubled BAR anastomoses to restore the digestive tract continuity in 1 patient have not been widely used in clinical practice. The use of the double BAR anastomoses to restore the digestive tract continuity has been prospectively analysed.
Methods. One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients (69 males, 45 females) with a mean age 66.8 years were operated between 1996 and 1999 performing a total of 128 BAR-Valtrac anastomoses of various types from distal esophagus to upper rectum. There were 14 double BAR anastomoses performed during the same operation in this group of patients, 9 after resections for cancer, 5 after resections for peptic ulcer disease. The patients were 7 males and 7 females, mean age 68.7 years (range 45-81). All latter operations were performed as elective surgery.
Results. Neither intraoperative complications nor perioperative death occurred. One case of delayed gastric emptying after gastrojejunostomy and 2 cases of prolonged intestinal passage recovery were observed during the postoperative period in this series. Follow-up between 30 and 60 months showed good overall results, with no further trouble in intestinal transit and no local recurrences of the malignant disease.
Conclusion. On the basis of clinical results, the BAR can be used safely in digestive surgery. The biofragmentable ring anastomosis is reliable, easy to perform and time sparing. Even doubled BAR anastomoses allowed to restore the continuity of various levels of the gastrointestinal tract with excellent results.