Comparison of the two intestinal anastomosis methods in pediatric patients

Background For pediatric patients, there is still controversy regarding the anastomotic technique used for gastrointestinal construction. The study was to evaluate the continuous single-layer (CSL) intestinal anastomosis method compared with the two-layered interrupted anastomosis. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the eligible patients following CSL anastomosis ( n = 252) and interrupted double-layer (IDL) anastomosis ( n = 196). The influences of CSL or IDL anastomosis on perioperative outcomes, including postoperative complications, anastomotic leakage, hospitalization cost, and postoperative hospital stay, were evaluated. Results No significant differences were found between the CSL and IDL groups in terms of anastomotic leakage or postoperative complications. CSL anastomosis was related to favorable clinical outcomes, including anastomotic time (11.6 ± 3.8 vs 24.3 ± 5.9 min, p < 0.001) and operative time (111.6 ± 48.6 vs 124.1 ± 54.2 min, p = 0.041). There was a decrease in inflammation variable (e.g., C-reactive protein) on postoperative day 5 (10.6 ± 5.8 vs 12.8 ± 6.6 mg/L, p = 0.032) in patients with CSL anastomoses compared to the IDL group. Conclusions The beneficial effects of CSL anastomosis in pediatric patients were demonstrated with respect to anastomotic time, length of postoperative recovery, and cost incurred.