Prospective evaluation of sutured, continuous, and interrupted single layer colonic anastomoses.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the merits of continuous and interrupted colonic anastomoses. DESIGN: Prospective non-randomised study. SETTING: District hospital, UK. SUBJECTS: 53 Patients (24 male and 29 female) of whom 26 underwent continuous and 27 interrupted sutured colonic anastomoses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mortality at 30 days, time taken to complete anastomosis, anastomotic dehiscence and anastomotic stricture. RESULTS: No patient died within 30 days. There were no significant differences in (median, range) time taken to complete the anastomosis (continuous: 15 (7-23) minutes; interrupted: 26 (10-34) minutes, p = 0.27); anastomotic leak rate (continuous 1; interrupted 1) and anastomotic stricture (continuous 1 and interrupted 1). Patients were followed up for a mean of 15 months after continuous and 18 months after interrupted colonic anastomoses. CONCLUSION: As both techniques were equally safe, it is probable that the type of colonic anastomosis done will remain a matter of individual preference.