title: Sutureless large bowel anastomosis: European experience with the biofragmentable anastomosis ring.
abstract: Sutureless colonic anastomosis using a biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) has been evaluated in a prospective randomized comparison with sutures and staples for elective colorectal surgery. One hundred and one patients underwent BAR anastomosis, 85 a sutured anastomosis, and 16 a stapled anastomosis. There were two anastomotic leaks in the patients undergoing BAR anastomosis, seven in patients having a sutured anastomosis, and one in a patient who had a stapled anastomosis. Wound infection occurred in ten BAR patients, ten sutured patients and no stapled patient. There was no statistically significant difference in these or in other postoperative complications between the groups. The BAR was easy to use and is a safe alternative to sutures and staples for large bowel anastomosis.
authors.affiliation: Kingston Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Cahill
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Betzler
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Gruwez
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeekel
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zederfeldt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011897:Random Allocation; D013528:Surgical Staplers; D013537:Sutures