Comparison of bursting pressure of sutured, stapled and BAR anastomoses

The study was undertaken to compare anastomotic bursting pressure (ABP) of colorectal canine anastomoses using three different anastomotic techniques. Biofragmentable anastomotic ring (BAR), stapled, and sutured colon anastomoses were sequentially placed in each of 48 dogs following division of the colon at three equally spaced sites. Four groups of 12 dogs were sacrificed either on day 0, 3, 7, or 28 and ABP and bursting wall tension were determined. The data revealed that BAR anastomoses have the greatest strength on the day of surgery, sutured anastomoses are the strongest on the third day and all are comparable by the 7th day. Bursting pressures for all groups by day 28 approach normal colonic bursting pressure, with any differences likely to be a reflection of variation in anastomotic fibrosis and other factors.