Glued versus stapled anastomosis of the colon: An experimental study to determine comparative resistance to intraluminal pressure

SummaryBackgroundThis study compared the resistance of glued versus stapled anastomosis of the colon to intraluminal pressures at different times during healing.MethodsForty seven female domestic pigs, mean weight of 30.7 kg, were used. Maximum physiological luminal pressures, i.e. the pressure resisted by a catheter inserted into the intestinal lumen via a puncture without it being released and without injury to the surrounding intestinal wall, was performed in 5 control animals. The remaining 42 animals were divided into 3 groups of 14 animals each based on time from anastomosis construction. Each group was divided into 2 subgroups with stapled or glued anastomoses. Intraluminal pressure was measured on the first, third, and fifth day post-surgery.ResultsThe maximum pressures resisted by anastomoses were significantly higher than the physiological pressures in all groups. At all time points, stapled anastomoses resisted higher intraluminal pressures than glued ones. However, glued anastomoses resisted pressures significantly higher than physiological pressure. As healing advanced, glued anastomoses neared the resistance to intraluminal pressures of stapled anastomoses.ConclusionHealing with absorbable synthetic glue was as good as with staples. Glued anastomoses resisted pressures that were statistically significantly higher than physiological intraluminal colon pressures but lower than stapled ones.