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Intraoperative Testing of Colorectal Anastomosis - Air or Water (Methylene Blue)?

Not Applicable
Conditions
ColoRectal Cancer
Anastomotic Leak
Colonic Diverticulitis
Anastomotic Complication
Anastomosis
Interventions
Procedure: Intraoperative testing of colorectal anastomoses
Procedure: Stapled colorectal anastomoses
Registration Number
NCT03316677
Lead Sponsor
Meir Medical Center
Brief Summary

A leak from a colorectal anastomosis is a post-operative complication surgeons fear the most, following colonic resection. Over the years, there have been multiple suggestions for intraoperative tests for the integrity of the colorectal anastomosis.

Two of the most common tests that are performed routinely are:

1. Air tight leak test - filling the pelvis with saline and insufflating air trans anal - looking for air bubbles in the saline filled pelvis.

2. Injecting diluted dye (methylene blue) trans anal, and looking for blue dye stains on gauze pads covering the outer side of anastomosis.

The aim of the study is to compare the two methods, and to assess if there is a superior method. A secondary aim is to establish standards to perform the test, mainly to assess the appropriate pressure to apply on the anastomosis.

In this prospective study patients scheduled to undergo colonic resection of their distal part of the colon/ rectum with colorectal anastomosis, will have both testing methods performed sequentially and will be followed post-operative to assess the yield and sensitivity of the testing methods.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
UNKNOWN
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria
  • Patients over the age of 18 undergoing elective colonic resection of their distal part of the colon/ rectum with colorectal anastomosis in a laparoscopic or open approach for a benign or malignant colonic disease.
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Exclusion Criteria
  • Emergent colonic resections,
  • Colonic resections with no colorectal anastamosis
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Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
colorectal resection and anastamosisIntraoperative testing of colorectal anastomosesIntraoperative testing of colorectal anastomoses 1. Insert a Foley catheter through the anus into the rectum. 2. Insufflate the Foley balloon with 5 cc of air. 3. fill the pelvic space with 500 CC of warm saline 4. Insufflate air into the rectum up to a pressure of 35 mmH2o as measured by external manometer 5. Remove the saline from the pelvic space. 6. Inject methylene blue in to the rectum up to a pressure of 35 mmH2o measured by external manometer 7. Remove the methylene blue from rectum. NB the above procedures are standard practice for assessing the quality of colorectal anastomoses during colorectal surgery. The purpose of the study is to compare these standard methods of evaluation to determinant which method is superior
colorectal resection and anastamosisStapled colorectal anastomosesIntraoperative testing of colorectal anastomoses 1. Insert a Foley catheter through the anus into the rectum. 2. Insufflate the Foley balloon with 5 cc of air. 3. fill the pelvic space with 500 CC of warm saline 4. Insufflate air into the rectum up to a pressure of 35 mmH2o as measured by external manometer 5. Remove the saline from the pelvic space. 6. Inject methylene blue in to the rectum up to a pressure of 35 mmH2o measured by external manometer 7. Remove the methylene blue from rectum. NB the above procedures are standard practice for assessing the quality of colorectal anastomoses during colorectal surgery. The purpose of the study is to compare these standard methods of evaluation to determinant which method is superior
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
the predictive value of intraoperative anastomosis testing on anastomotic leak.30 days

The presence or absence of a post-operative clinical anastomotic leak

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
The sensitivity of the 2 methods of intraoperative anastomosis testing.Both findings will be obvious (if present) immediately after the test is performed

We will compare the occurence of air leak with the occurence of methylene blue leak in each patient

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