[Securing colon anastomoses by surrounding it with a polyglycolic acid filament net. An animal experiment study]

Resorbable polyglycolic-acid (PGA)-nets are used successfully for the treatment of traumatic ruptures of parenchymous organs. This experimental study was carried out to investigate whether PGA-nets can also re-enforce jeopardized colon anastomoses. In 75 Wistar rats the transverse colon was transsected and reanastomosed. Animals were divided into 2 groups: in one group the anastomosis was applied sufficiently, in the other group the anastomosis was applied potentially insufficient. Out of each group a PGA-net was placed around the anastomosis in one half of the animals. The results demonstrated that delayed healing of the anastomoses as well as spontaneous suture line disruptions followed by peritonitis only occurred in those animals in which a PGA-net had been used. The evaluation of the bursting strength could confirm this finding of delayed consolidation. The bursting pressure therefore was significantly decreased in all animals in which a PGA-net had been applied, compared to the control group operated without PGA-net application. We therefore conclude that PGA-net application in colon anastomoses inhibits the consolidation of the suture line, probably because of a lack of contact to the peritoneal and omental tissue.