Real-Time In Vivo Monitoring of Anastomotic Intestinal Ischemia Using Implantable Resorbable Organic Sensors

Anastomotic failure remains one of the most severe complications in gastrointestinal surgery. Despite continuous advancements in stapler technologies and surgical techniques, it continues to be a leading cause of postoperative morbidity and mortality. It contributes substantially to prolonged hospitalization and increased healthcare expenditures. Currently, diagnosis is based on secondary systemic signs, such as inflammatory response or changes in drain fluid, followed by a multimodal diagnostic approach. However, reliable early detection of local alterations is still lacking. Here, the implantation of a bioresorbable is investigated, intra-anastomotically placed sensor device. By performing real-time intra-anastomotic bioimpedance measurements, ischemia-related changes are identified at an early, potentially reversible stage, prior to the onset of clinical or systemic manifestations. Furthermore, the sensor device offers the potential for future integration of pattern-recognition algorithms and the possibility of direct measurement of different markers in the anastomotic microenvironment.