Experience with biofragmentable anastomotic rings

During 1991-92 we performed 50 bowel anastomoses using the biofragmentable anastomotic ring (BAR). The indications were malignancy (35 cases), Crohn's disease (3), dolichosigma (4), diverticulitis (2), gastric outlet obstruction (2), and 1 each for abdominal trauma, postoperative stricture, and stricture caused by ischemic colitis. The average age was 61; 28 were women and 22 men. The anastomoses were between colon and rectum (21 cases), ileum and colon (18), colon and colon (8), stomach and jejunum (2) and ileum and ileum (1). First stools were passed after an average of 4.7 +/- 2.5 (SD) days and a low-residue diet was well-tolerated after an average of 7 +/- 3.9 days. There were complications in 12 (24%). In 3 others leaks necessitated reoperation. Incomplete small bowel obstruction developed in 6, 4-18 days after operation and lasted 3-11 days. In 2 a perianastomotic inflammation appeared 1-3 weeks after operation and was treated successfully with IV antibiotics and bowel rest. In 1 case a stricture appeared 3 months after surgery and was treated successfully with balloon dilatation. No complications were seen after anastomosing bowel segments proximal to the ileocecal valve. The average time for expelling the BAR in 19 of the 45 patients was 2.5 +/- 0.6 weeks, assessed by weekly X-raying of the abdomen. Although the group of patients was small, our impression is that the method of anastomosis is easy to learn, easy to perform and relatively safe.