• Yasumitsu Hirano, Kenji Omura, Yasuhiko Tatsuzawa, Junzo Shimizu, Yukimitsu Kawaura, and Go Watanabe.
• Department of Surgery, Saiseikai Kanazawa Hospital, Ni-13-6 Akatsuchi-machi, Kanazawa, 920-0353, Japan.
• World J Surg. 2006 Mar 1;30(3):457-61.

IntroductionWe investigated the relation between tissue oxygen saturation measured by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and anastomotic complications associated with colorectal surgery.MethodsA series of 20 patients with colorectal cancer underwent radical surgery with enteric anastomosis. Measurements of tissue oxygen saturation (StO2) were performed at both the proximal and distal portions of the anastomotic site; in cases of anterior resection, we measured StO2 only in the proximal portion.ResultsTwo anastomotic complications (one leakage, one stenosis) occurred in the 20 cases. The StO2 in patients with anastomotic complications was 58.0%, and that in patients without complications was 71.0%. Altogether, 18 patients had StO2 values > 66%, and none of them had anastomotic complications. In contrast, 2 patients had StO2 values < 60%, and both had anastomotic complications.ConclusionsThe StO2 of the anastomotic site can be safely and reliably measured by NIRS during colorectal surgery. Low StO2 on both sides of the anastomosis may indicate an increased risk of anastomotic complications. Further study is needed to determine the cutoff value for StO2 required to prevent serious complications.

18 keywords...

hide…