[Use of the Valtrac ring for digestive anastomoses in urology: apropos of 16 cases].

The Valtrac ring is a biofragmentable ring used for gastrointestinal anastomoses. Over a two-year period, 15 anastomoses in 16 patients (mean age: 60 years) were performed with the Valtrac ring: 10 ileal, 4 ileocolonic, and 1 jejunojejunal anastomoses. One anastomosis could not be performed because of an excessively narrow ileal lumen. The mean stay in the intensive care unit was 3 days: gastric aspiration was maintained for an average of 1 week, as return of gastrointestinal motility was long, with first flatus on the 6th day and the first stools on the 7th day. Complications consisted of 2 cases of gastrointestinal fistula (11th and 13th days) one of which was fatal, evisceration on the 7th day, a transient partial bowel obstruction and one bowel obstruction treated medically on the 27th day, due to pancreatitis. Our results are not identical to those reported in the literature. It is often difficult to insert the current form of the Valtrac ring into a healthy ileum, as the smallest ring is often too large. In contrast with gastrointestinal surgery, the anastomoses performed in urology involve a non-thickened, non-distended small intestine.