Colonic anastomosis with sutureless biofragmentable rings.

PURPOSE OF STUDY--To evaluate the safety and applicability of a biofragmentable anastomotic ring (VALTRAC BAR) in an Asian population and report on its performance as an alternative to sutures and stapling devices. SELECTION OF STUDY SUBJECTS--A consecutive series of 20 patients undergoing colonic surgery over a 7-month period from October 1992 to April 1993. OBSERVATIONAL METHODS AND MAIN FINDINGS--A protocol was drawn up for prospective record of data from 11 male and 9 female patients (age 34 years to 83 years). Information was collected regarding length of operation (average 3 hours), actual anastomotic time (average 13.5 minutes) and problems or complications associated with the Valtrac device during surgery (none). Postoperatively, the cases were carefully documented for intestinal obstruction from faecal impaction due to Valtrac fragments (none), the timing of bowel movements (majority 4th day, range 1-7 days), and awareness of passing fragments (none). There were no mortality and no anastomotic leakage though two patients developed wound infection. PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS--This preliminary study confirms that the biofragmentable anastomotic ring is a simple, rapid and efficacious method of bowel anastomosis comparable to existing procedures. It has the distinct advantage of being uniformly reproducible.