Esophageal transection using a biofragmentable anastomosis ring in dogs.

Since the first publication on the new anastomosis technique using a biofragmentable anastomosis ring (BAR) by Hardy in 1985, various studies have been performed to investigate the superiority of this type of anastomosis, and it has since been reported that the BAR was safely used not only in large and small bowel anastomosis, but in cholecystojejunal and gastrojejunal anastomosis as well. In this study, the feasibility of the BAR for esophageal transection was investigated. Seven dogs were operated on, and one died of intraabdominal bleeding on the operative day while another died of leakage at the site of gastrotomy on the 3rd postoperative day. These deaths were all considered to be due to simple technical errors not directly related to the use of the BAR. The postoperative recovery of the other five dogs was uneventful, and the ring eventually disintegrated into several small fragments that passed out of the body in the faces between the 14th and 21st postoperative days. The dogs were killed on the 28th postoperative day, and both gross and histological examinations, revealed that the transection had been successful. Neither leakage nor significant stenosis at the site of transection was found. Our results suggested that the BAR could be used for esophageal transection and is thus recommended as an easy-to-learn, time-saving, and safe technique for esophageal operations.