HOW TO PERFORM ENTEROCYSTOPLASTY WITHOUT OPENING THE INTESTINE

Objectives. To introduce a new technique for intestinal anastomosis wh en performing demucosalized enterocystoplasty. Methods. In 8 dogs, a v ascularized seromuscular patch of sigmoid colon was harvested without opening the bowel lumen. The bowel mucosa was invaginated into the int estinal lumen and the sigmoid musculature was reapproximated. Twelve p atients underwent a nonsecretory sigmoid cystoplasty following the sam e principle. Results. No complications occurred in the experimental an imals, The animals were fed normally starting on the first postoperati ve day. Prolapse of the excess mucosa occurred in 3 cases and disappea red spontaneously. In the clinical group, the postoperative course was normal. Oral intake was resumed on the first day after the operation. The hospital stay was shorter than that of patients in whom the bowel lumen was opened. Conclusions. The use of demucosalized intestinal pa tches without opening the intestinal lumen appears to be feasible and is expected to reduce perioperative morbidity. Extensive bowel prepara tion can be reduced, as can the prophylactic use of antibiotics.