Bovine Pericardium Buttress Reinforces Colorectal Anastomoses in a Canine Model

PURPOSE: METHODS: RESULTS:Colon segments with nonbuttressed anastomoses were more likely to burst at the staple line (63 percent), whereas buttressed anastomoses were more likely to burst at the adjacent intestine (74 percent; P = 0.048). The burst pressure of nonbuttressed staple lines tended to be consistently, although not significantly, higher than the burst pressure of buttressed staple lines (P = 0.651). At histologic analysis, the bovine pericardium buttress demonstrated an ability to allow cellular ingrowth at Day 3 and neovascularization at Day 7. There was no evidence of stenosis or infection. CONCLUSIONS: