[The indications for the Valtrac-ring--Report on 1015 Anastomoses].

1,015 Valtrac-anastomoses in 876 patients were performed in the Surgical Department of "Städtisches Klinikum - Krankenhaus Altstadt Magdeburg" from June 1991 until June 2000. The registration of data was done prospectively, the mean age of all patients was 62.1 years, the youngest patient was 22 and the oldest 94 years old. In 88 % of all cases patients suffered from malignant and in 12 % from benign diseases. The anastomosis insufficiency rate per patient was 1.3 % and per anastomosis 1.1 %. We found a significant difference in the anastomosis insufficiency rate of the upper (0.4 %) and the lower gastrointestinal tract (4.2 %). As a result of our experiences we propose the use of the Valtrac-ring for anastomoses in intrathoracic oesophagogastrostomy, gastrostomy in inoperable malignant pyloric stenosis, small bowel anastomosis as part of Y-Roux-reconstruction and end-to-end-anastomosis in the lower gastrointestinal tract after colon-resection. We do not see a routine indication for Valtrac-anastomosis in oesophagojejunostomy after gastrectomy and in colorectal anastomosis after rectum-resection.