INTESTINAL ANASTOMOSIS

COMPARATIVE EVALUATION FOR SAFETY, COST EFFECTIVENESS, MORBIDITY AND COMPLICATION OF SINGLE VERSUS DOUBLE LAYER

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the safety and cost effectiveness of single layer interrupted intestinal anastomosis in comparison with the double layer conventional method of intestinal anastomosis. Study Design : Prospective comparative study. Period & Setting: Surgical unit 4 DHQ hospital Faisalabad operated by single team during 12 months starting from Feb. 2007 to Jan. 2008. Materials and Methods: The cases were assigned to the two techniques, each being applied on alternate patient, single layer extra mucosal interrupted anastomosis and
double layer anastomosis. In group 1 we used black silk 3/0 and in double layer we used vicryl 3/0 for inner continuous layer and black silk 3/0 for outer continuous layer. Comparison between two techniques was done on the bases of procedure time, cost effectiveness, morbidity in terms of rate of leakage/. Results: Average time for the construction of the single layer anastomosis was 20 minutes and in double layer was 35 minutes, the difference in average time is statistically significant (p<.001) while average duration of stay was 168 hrs and 216 hrs in group 1 and 2 respectively (p<.001). Leakage rate was double (12%) in group 2 while 6% in group 1. Moreover structure material consumption was more in two layered technique and longer stay added to that lead to more hospital expenses on two layered technique. Conclusion: Anastomosis using
a single layer interrupted extra mucosal technique was faster to perform, cost effective, less likely to leak and as strong as a 2-layer anastomosis.