Does powered stapler improve the mechanical integrity of gastrojejunal anastomosis compared to the current techniques? Experimental study in ex vivo porcine models

BACKGROUND: Numerous techniques have been described for fashioning gastrojejunostomy (GJ) in a Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. These include hand-sewn anastomosis (HSA) and mechanical anastomosis; the latter includes circular stapled anastomosis (CSA) or manual linear stapled anastomosis (mLSA). More recently, this list also includes powered linear stapled anastomosis (pLSA). The aim of this study was to analyse if addition of power to stapling would improve the integrity of GJ anastomosis in ex vivo porcine models. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The present study included five groups – mLSA1, mLSA2, HSA, CSA, and pLSA. Sequential infusions of methylene blue-coloured saline were performed into the GJ models. Pressure readings were recorded till the point of leak denoting burst pressure (BP). Total volume (TV) and site of leak were recorded. Compliance was calculated from the equation ΔTV/ΔBP. RESULTS: Differences in pouch and intestinal thickness were not statistically significant between the models. BPs were higher in the mechanical anastomosis groups, i.e., pLSA 21 ± 9.85 mmHg, CSA 20.33 ± 5.78 mmHg, mLSA1 18 ± 4.69 mmHg and mLSA2 11 ± 2.94 mmHg, when compared to HSA 9.67 ± 3.79 mm Hg, which was found to be statistically significant (Kruskal–Wallis test, P = 0.03). Overall, the highest BP was recorded for powered stapling followed by circular, and then, linear stapling; however, this difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.86). There was no statistically significant difference among groups with regard to compliance (Kruskal–Wallis test, P = 0.082). CONCLUSION: Despite the limited number of samples, mechanical anastomosis showed a statistically higher BP when compared to HSA, suggesting better anastomotic integrity. The pLSA group showed promising results with the highest BP recorded among all groups; however, this did not reach statistical significance.