Objective: To compare healing of one-layer colonic anastomoses with or without a soluble intraluminal prosthesis (* SBS-tube).
Design: Randomised, partly blinded controlled study.
Setting: University hospital, Denmark.
Subjects: 16 female Danish country strain pigs, of which 8 had the SBS tube inserted and 8 acted as controls.
Interventions: One-layer colonic anastomoses either hand-sewn (n = 8, controls) or hand-sewn onto an SBS tube (n = 8).
Main outcome measures: Macroscopic evaluation, leakage test, breaking strength, histology, oxygen tension in and near the anastomosis peroperatively and 4 days postoperatively.
Results: Three quarters of the tubes (n = 8) dissolved in less than 2 hours. Histological examination showed significantly better structured layers and more mucosal epithelial covering in the SBS group. The other histological variables examined were: tissue gap (p < 0.08), inflammation (p < 0.10), breaking strength (p < 0.46) and amount of granulation tissue (p < 0.71), but the last findings were not significant. Oxygen tension at the anastomotic line was better in the SBS tube group, but not significantly so.
Conclusions: We conclude that the SBS tube facilitates the sewing of the anastomosis and may improve healing, possibly because of better apposition of the cut ends and reduced tension in the sutures.