title: Experiences with single-layer biliodigestive anastomosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The right technique for biliodigestive anastomosis is still being researched. The present study investigated the single-layer method.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors performed single-layer biliodigestive anastomosis in 153 patients between 1995 January and 2000 August. Among the operative procedures there were pancreatoduodenectomy, pancreatic head resection, pancreatic drainage operation, GEA and in a small percentage of the cases other procedures. 88.2% of the anastomoses were done with a continuous suture technique, mainly with 4/0 PDS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 96 cases the diagnosis was tumor, while the others were benign diseases. Hepatico- or choledochojejunostomy was twice as much as cholecystojejunostomy. There were complications in 29.4% of the cases, from which the rate of biliary fistula was 3.9%. All fistulas healed for conservative therapy. Reoperation was in 7.1%, the operative mortality was 9.8%. Preoperatively 77.1% of the patients had cholestasis, which improved in all cases postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary the authors offer the single-layer technique for biliodigestive anastomosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical Faculty of Pécs University, Pecs, Hungary. kelemen@iseb.pote.hu
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelemen
authors.forename: O P
authors.initials: OP
authors.lastname: Horváth
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D001661:Biliary Tract Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002768:Choledochostomy / Q000379:methods; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000601:surgery*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005743:Gastrectomy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010180:Pancreatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D016577:Pancreaticoduodenectomy / Q000379:methods*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D013536:Suture Techniques