Incidence and management of anastomotic bleeding after ileocolic anastomosis.

AIM: Ileocolic anastomosis is performed using a stapled or manual technique, but with either there is a risk of bleeding from the suture line. The aim of this study was to analyse, retrospectively, bleeding after different anastomotic techniques.

METHOD: Patients having elective right colectomy were divided, according to the type of ileocolic anastomosis, into Group 1 (circular, double-stapled, end-to-side), Group 2 (linear-stapled, side-to-side) and Group 3 (handsewn, side-to-side). Postoperative lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) was studied in the three groups. Uni- and multivariate analysis was performed to study risk factors for LGIB and the need for postoperative allogeneic blood transfusion.

RESULTS

Three-hundred and fifty patients were included: 174 in Group 1, 59 in Group 2 and 117 in Group 3. The postoperative LGIB rate was 4.9% and occurred exclusively in Group 1. Five patients had severe anastomotic bleeding. Postoperative blood transfusion was indicated in Groups 1, 2 and 3 in 19.0%, 5.1% and 13.7% of patients. In the five patients with severe bleeding, four attempts of colonoscopic arrest were made, achieving bleeding control in one. Angiographic embolization was successful in one patient. There were no procedure-specific complications.

CONCLUSION

End-to-side, circular, double-stapling ileocolic anastomosis seems to be related to an increased incidence of anastomotic bleeding and of postoperative blood transfusion compared with patients having other techniques of ileocolic anastomosis.