Anastomosis

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Gastrectomy

An anastomosis is a surgical connection between 2 structures. It usually means a connection that is created between tubular structures, such as blood vessels or loops of intestine. For example, when a segment of intestine is surgically removed, the 2 remaining ends are sewn or stapled together (anastomosed), and the procedure is referred to as an intestinal anastomosis.

Examples of surgical anastomoses are colostomy (an opening created between the bowel and the abdominal skin) and arterio-venous fistula (an opening created between an artery and vein) for hemodialysis.

A pathological (caused by disease) anastomosis can result from trauma or infection and may involve veins, arteries, or intestines. These are usually referred to as fistulas. In the cases of veins or arteries, traumatic fistulas usually occur between artery and vein. Traumatic intestinal fistulas usually occur between 2 loops of intestine (entero-enteric fistula) or intestine and skin (enterocutaneous fistula).

Review Date: 08/11/2005
Reviewed By: Joseph P. Hart, M.D., Marco Polo Traveling Fellow c/o Department of Vascular Surgery, A. Z. St. Blasius Hospital (Belgium). Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.