Stapled functional end-to-end anastomosis versus sutured end-to-end anastomosis after ileocolonic resection in Crohn disease.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this retrospective study was to compare complications and anastomotic recurrence rates after stapled functional end-to-end versus conventional sutured end-to-end anastomosis after ileocolonic resection in Crohn disease.


METHODS
Between 1988 and 1997, 123 patients underwent ileocolonic resection for Crohn disease. Forty-five patients underwent stapled functional end-to-end anastomosis (stapled group), and 78 underwent sutured end-to-end anastomosis (sutured group).


RESULTS
The stapled anastomosis has been more frequently used during the past 3 years; between 1995 and 1997 it was used in 33 (83%) of 40 patients, compared with only 12 (14%) of 83 patients between 1988 and 1994. There was one anastomotic leak (2%) in the stapled group, compared with six (8%) in the sutured group. The overall complication rate was significantly lower in the stapled group (7% versus 23%, P = 0.04). In the stapled group only one patient required reoperation for ileocolonic anastomotic recurrence, compared with 26 in the sutured group. The cumulative 1-, 2- and 5-year rates for ileocolonic recurrences requiring surgery in the stapled group were 0%, 0%, and 3%, which were significantly lower than the 5%, 11%, and 24% in the sutured group (P = 0.007 by log-rank test).


CONCLUSIONS
Although the follow-up duration was short in the stapled group, these results suggest that stapled functional end-to-end ileocolonic anastomosis is associated with a lower incidence of complications and that early anastomotic recurrence is less common than after sutured end-to-end anastomosis. However, a randomized trial would be necessary to draw clear conclusions.
Yamamoto
T
T
University Dept. of Surgery, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
Bain
I M
IM
Mylonakis
E
E
Allan
R N
RN
Keighley
M R
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007082:Ileum / Q000601:surgery; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013537:Sutures; D017211:Treatment Failure