Importance of Testing Stapled Rectal Anastomoses with Air

Overview

Journal Eur J Surg

Specialty General Surgery

Date 1993 Jan 1

PMID 8095807

Citations 9

Authors

R Yalin

A O Aktan

C Yegen

H Dosluoglu

N Okboy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To compare the air test (insufflation of air through the anus after the peritoneal cavity has been filled with saline) and the completeness of doughnuts as indicators of the integrity of stapled rectal anastomoses.

Design: Prospective open study.

Setting: Marmara University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Subjects: 23 patients with sigmoid and rectal carcinoma.

Main Outcome Measures: Correlation between positive air test, completeness of doughnuts, and clinical anastomotic breakdown.

Results: Two patients were withdrawn (one had a handsewn anastomosis and in one the air test was omitted). Five patients had positive air tests, and in four of these the doughnuts were complete. The leaks were repaired with additional sutures in three patients, and two were given covering colostomies. There was only one clinical anastomotic breakdown.

Conclusion: The air test enabled the surgeon to repair or protect five anastomoses (24%). The completeness of the doughnuts was an reliable test of anastomotic integrity.

Citing Articles

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Allaix M, Lena A, Degiuli M, Arezzo A, Passera R, Mistrangelo M Surg Endosc. 2018; 33(5):1592-1599.

PMID: 30203203 DOI: 10.1007/s00464-018-6421-8.

Is the intraoperative air leak test effective in the prevention of colorectal anastomotic leakage? A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Wu Z, van de Haar R, Sparreboom C, Boersema G, Li Z, Ji J Int J Colorectal Dis. 2016; 31(8):1409-17.

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Case Report on the Demonstration of Minute Colonic Perforations Caused by Birdshot Injury.

Emeklioglu I, Kayaalp C, Aydin C Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2016; 36(3):260-2.

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Intraoperative assessment of colorectal anastomotic integrity: a systematic review.

Nachiappan S, Askari A, Currie A, Kennedy R, Faiz O Surg Endosc. 2014; 28(9):2513-30.

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Prediction and diagnosis of colorectal anastomotic leakage: A systematic review of literature.

Daams F, Wu Z, Lahaye M, Jeekel J, Lange J World J Gastrointest Surg. 2014; 6(2):14-26.

PMID: 24600507 PMC: 3942535. DOI: 10.4240/wjgs.v6.i2.14.