Medicinski vjesnik, Vol. 30 No. (3-4), 1998.
Professional paper
Our initial experiences with valtrak application in the creation of intestinal anastomoses
Krunoslav Nikšić
Branko Weber
Božidar Lolić
Mato Vidaković
Abstract
The implantation of VALTRAK (a biofragmentary ring) onto the resected intestinal segments, in order to join them to enable healing is only one of several surgical methods to create an intestinal anastomosis in a fast and correct way, avoiding the use of numerous sutures or stitches, which could imperil and compromise the vitality of the joined tissues. The paper shows the necessary Instrumentarium, describes the operative technique and analyses results. In the 18-month period 14 Valtrak rings of different sizes have been implanted in 14 patients (8 male (57.1%) and 6 female (42.9%), at the average age of 58.5 years (19-87). Of those 12 have been implanted into the small intestine and 2 into the large intestine. There were 11 emergency procedures (78.6%) and only 3 (21.4%) planned ones, mostly due to the gangrene or rupture of the small intestine or a colon cancer. The complications comprised an incorrectly placed pursestring suture, the "fizzling" of anastomosis, requiring additional 1-2 seroserous sutures, intestinal colic during the fragmentation and elimination of the ring as well as one case of microdehiscence. Twelve patients recovered completely and two cases of death were caused by severe peritonitis and shock and not by Valtrak. Attention is drawn to the requirements for successful application of this procedure, i.e. a precise technique, relative simplicity and speed of work and caution when implanting into the large intestine. This method is definitely a good alternative to classical suturing and maybe also to the stapling technique, especially in creation of anastomoses on the small intestine and is recommended.
Keywords
VALTRAK (a biofragmentary ring); intestinal anastomosis
Hrčak ID:
192344
URI
Publication date:
1.12.1998.
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