A new technique for sutureless intestinal anastomosis. A prospective, randomized, clinical trial

A polyglycolic acid device has been designed for the performance of sutureless colonic anastomoses. The use of this biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) was compared with conventional techniques in a prospective, randomized study of 59 patients (x age, 49 years) undergoing ileocolostomy (n = 23) or colocolostomy (n = 36). The anastomotic technique was determined at surgery by randomization (BAR, 27 patients; suture, 16 patients; staple, 16 patients). Performance of an anastomosis with the BAR required an average of 22 minutes, a stapled anastomosis required 33 minutes, and the suture technique required 37 minutes. Learning curve error contributed to the six intraoperative complications that occurred with performance of the anastomosis (BAR, three; end-to-end anastomosis [EEA] instrument, three). The two postoperative deaths were unrelated to the anastomosis. Length of hospitalization in uncomplicated patients was the same among the three groups. The 17 patients with prolonged hospitalization had complications unrelated to anastomotic technique. All patients were followed for a minimum of 6 weeks; no additional complications were identified. We concluded that 1) the BAR is a rapid, safe method for performance of sutureless anastomoses; 2) perioperative mortality and morbidity rates of the BAR are comparable to conventional techniques of suture and staple; and 3) long-term follow-up of BAR patients is warranted to determine the incidence of complications, such as structure and/or stenosis.