Prevention and treatment of intestinal dehiscence by an intraluminal bypass graft.

The most important cause of morbidity and mortality in the surgery of the colon, rectum and oesophagus is dehiscence. An experimental study to investigate a method of protecting intestinal anastomoses/dehiscences by an intraluminal bypass graft was carried out. This was accomplished by the implantation of a soft tube (graft) in the proximal intestine above the proposed anastomosis/dehiscence, which conducts the salivary, gastrointestinal secretion, food and faecal stream past the anastomosis/dehiscence into the distal intestine; these contents are thereby prevented from coming in contact with the anastomosis/dehiscence. Intestinal continuity is then completed. The graft is expelled spontaneously after a varying time. In the face of gross anastomotic dehiscences, faecal peritonitis and mediastinitis, primary healing without leakage occurs. A clinical study has been instituted.