[The biofragmentable Valtrac ring--a reliable concept for enteral anastomosis?]

In a retrospective investigation, 54 patients with 55 enteric anastomoses performed with the new biofragmentable Valtrac ring were examined. In 45 patients with disease of the colon partial resection of the large bowel had been performed. In 9 patients undergoing urinary diversion an end-to-end ileostomy was performed. The most important advantage of this device is that its use is achieved by way of a safe and quick technique which is easy to learn. Bowel stenosis, bleeding and other complications independent of anastomotic technique, such as wound infection, were no more frequent than after conventional suture anastomosis. In 3 patients an anastomotic leakage appeared. In 1 of these cases conservative management for a colocutaneous fistula was successful, but the other 2 patients had to undergo a second operation. In our opinion, the Valtrac system offers a convincing and reproducible alternative to conventional anastomotic techniques and it is easy to learn how to apply it.