Publication:

Study of clinical outcome of patients undergoing intestinal anastomoses with single layer extramucosal technique and double layer anastomoses

Background Intestinal anastomosis is one of the common surgeries for cases like bowel obstruction, incarcerated hernias, benign and malignant tumours of small and large bowel. The ideal intestinal anastomosis does not leak and allow normal function of the gastrointestinal tract. This study compared single layer versus double layer  intestinal anastomosis in terms of duration, postoperative complications like anastomotic leak.

Methods A total of 100 patients admitted in Hamidia hospital, based on history and clinical examinations and radiological examinations, placed in two groups, group A (single layer anastomosis) and group B (double layer anastomosis) and were operated by a qualified surgical specialist. Data analysis of anastomotic time, anastomotic leak was done and statistical tests of significance were applied. A p value less than 0.05 is considered as significant.

Results In group A (single layer) the time required to perform in 30 (60%) patients is between 16-20 minutes. In double layer, maximum were done in between 26 to 30 minutes, 32 (64%). In our study of 100 patients, there were 6 anastomotic leaks, of which four of them were in group A (single layer) and 2 of them in group B (double layer).

Conclusions In our study, the duration required to perform a single layer intestinal anastomosis is significantly lesser when compared to double layer. There is no significant difference in anastomotic leak between two groups. Less time with no difference in complications, a move towards single layer anastomosis should be preferred.