Objective: To compare end-to-end jejunal anastomoses with a one-layer (Utrecht) and two-layer (simple continuous/Cushing) patterns.
Study design: Experimental study.
Animals: Eight healthy adult horses.
Methods: Jejunal end-to-end anastomoses were performed in randomly assigned one-layer or two-layer patterns. Horses were recovered from surgery and monitored for complications. At 14 days, the opposite pattern was performed (cross-over design) prior to euthanasia. Duration of closures was compared between patterns. Serosal width was measured before harvesting anastomotic sites from the first procedure. Luminal diameter was measured, and sections were collected for histological evaluation of heating after routine and immunohistochemical staining.
Results: One-layer closure was faster (716 ± 86 s) than two-layer closures (1136 ± 111 s). Postoperative complications were minimal. No difference was detected in lumen size between groups. The lumen was reduced by 18% after one-layer and 15% after two-layer closures (p = .34). Serosal adhesions to the mesentery without clinical evidence of obstruction were observed in two horses with two-layer closure. Histopathological scores for inflammation, infection, and healing did not differ between groups.
Conclusion: Jejunal anastomosis with one-layer Utrecht technique was about 7 min faster and led to similar luminal reduction and histological healing scores as two-layer jejunojejunostomies.
Clinical significance: The outcomes of one-layer Utrecht jejunojejunostomies in healthy horses justify clinical evaluation of this technique.
© 2021 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.