Beneficial effect of omental wrapping of unsafe intestinal anastomoses. An experimental study in dogs.

The effect of omental wrapping on the safety of intestinal anastomosis was studied experimentally in 12 dogs. In six animals serving as controls, complete division of the small intestine and immediate restoration of continuity was carried out, after rendering the intestinal segment ischemic by ligating the mesenteric vessels for a distance of 10 cm. In a second group of animals, the ischemic anastomosis was wrapped with a pedicled strip of omentum. Gangrene and peritonitis developed in all animals of the control group, whereas the omental graft afforded complete protection against leakage from the devascularized anastomosis and peritonitis in the test animals.