STAPLED VERSUS HAND-SEWN ANASTOMOSIS OF THE LARGE BOWEL DUE TO ABDOMINAL TRAUMA: A PROSPECTIVE COMPARATIVE STUDY

Aim:To compare stapled with hand-sewn anastomosis in cases of large bowel injuries after abdominal trauma. Methods: This prospective study was done in The Department of General Surgery, Minia University Hospital in a period between March 2004 and March 2007. All patients with colonic injuries requiring urgent resection due to abdominal trauma were included. Results: There were 39 patients enrolled in this study, comprising 18 patients (46.2%) with stapled anastomosis and 21 patients (53.82%) with hand-sewn anastomosis. They were 30 males (76.9%) and 9 females (23.1%), with a mean age of 46.7±11.3 years. There were 3 patients (16.6%) of anastomotic leak in the stapled group versus 8 patients (38%) in the handsewn group (P 0.05). The operative time was 112 ± 30.2 min in the stapled group versus 160 ± 27.4 min in the hand-sewn group( P 0.05). The mean ± SD of hospital stay was 9.2 ± 8.3 days in the stapled group versus18.9 ± 14.5 days in the hand-sewn group( 0.05). Conclusion: Stapled large bowel anastomosis is safe and effective in setting of abdominal trauma. It is associated with fewer anastomotic leaks, lesser operative time and shorter hospital stay than hand-sewn anastomosis