New device for biofragmentable anastomotic ring in low anterior resection

The biofragmentable anastomotic ring (BAR) is now accepted as an alternative anastomotic method to handsewn and stapled anastomosis in colonic surgery. However, for a short rectal stump in a narrow pelvis, it is rather difficult to use the BAR in a low anterior resection.

To overcome the difficulty, we designed and used a BAR-adapter to facilitate biofragmentable ring anastomosis following low anterior resection in eight patients with rectal cancers.

There was no case in our series having received conversion to other methods. There was no significant complication associated with this technique.

With the BAR-adapter, the applicability of the BAR can be greatly expanded in colorectal anastomosis following low anterior resection.