SINGLE-LAYER CONTINUOUS ANASTOMOSIS IN GASTROINTESTINAL SURGERY - A PROSPECTIVE AUDIT

Background: Single-layer intestinal anastomoses have been constructed conventionally using an interrupted suture technique. It is, however, increasingly popular to perform such anastomosis using a continuous su ture. Methods: One hundred and eighty consecutive patients with 254 co ntinuous single-layer anastomoses performed over a 4 year period were included in the study. Sixty-one patients, underwent oesophagectomy, o esophageal bypass or gastrectomy, 32 underwent biliary bypass, hepatic , biliary or pancreatic resection and SE; had colorectal operations, T he median age was 67 pears. Results: There were 254 anastomoses of whi ch four leaked (1.6%). Fifteen patients (8.3%) died in hospital. Concl usion: These results show that the single-layer continuous suture tech nique is safe in gastrointestinal anastomoses.