Cholecystoenteral anastomosis with the biofragmentable ring and manual suture--a prospective, randomized study

20 patients treated by cholecystojejunostomy for obstructive icterus were randomized to be treated either with a biofragmentable intraluminal ring (Valtrac) (10 patients) or suture of the cholecystointestinal anastomosis (10 patients). Postoperatively one patient in each group died of advanced malignancy. There were no surgical complications in either group. The relief of icterus, recovery of the gastrointestinal tract and the mean hospital stay were similar in both groups. The biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) is a safe method for cholecystoenteral anastomoses.