Early colonic anastomotic edema. Evaluation of stapled vs. hand-sewn anastomoses

Early dysfunction of intestinal anastomoses is sometimes blamed on anastomotic edema. This study compares stapled and hand-sewn anastomoses for the development of early anastomotic edema. After segmental colon resections, one group of dogs was reconstructed with two-layered handsewn anastomoses, and the other group had stapled anastomoses. Controls were untouched small bowel in each operated animal and untouched colon in a separate group of dogs. At 24 hours postoperatively, all animals were given 125I albumin and at 28 hours the animals were killed, venous blood was obtained, and the anastomoses were harvested. Tissue levels of 125I albumin were measured at 1-mm and 1-cm distances from each anastomosis and compared with controls. This quantitative measure of edema was compared with the histologic appearance of the tissue specimens. The results show significant edema formation in both stapled and handsewn anastomoses compared with control tissues (P less than .05 for each animal). Although quantitative and histologic results demonstrate less edema in the stapled group, the difference is not significant by the Wilcoxin rank test. These and similar studies may allow improvement in surgical technique.