Anastomotic Complexity: Key Challenges
Outdated Techniques
Over 1 million anastomosis procedures are performed annually in the United States. Most use outdated, manual suturing techniques that date back to the early 1900s, or they use complex stapling mechanisms introduced in the 1970s. These antiquated techniques fail in 20% of cases, extending operative time and increasing the likelihood of surgical complications by 1% per additional minute.
Unnecessary Risk
Microvascular reconstructive surgeries are dependent upon arterial and venous anastomoses to successfully transplant tissue from one area of the body to another. Approximately 10-15% of these procedures require re-exploration due to anastomotic concerns. Gastrointestinal surgery brings even greater concerns, with each anastomotic failure carrying a 36% mortality rate.
Lack of Innovation
There has been little innovation in anastomosis techniques since the introduction of surgical staplers in the 1970s. More recent developments like sutureless couplers offer modest improvements, but cannot connect vascular connections greater than 4 mm in diameter or 0.5mm in wall thickness. Buck Surgical has developed a novel, efficient and patented coupling technology, that is easy to use and rapidly creates a connection to provide unobstructed flow.
Limited Access
Existing anastomotic techniques require complex medical equipment, surgical microscopes and fellowship-trained microsurgeons. While many patients in rural and resource-constrained locations could benefit from procedures requiring an anastomosis, they don’t have access to the necessary resources required for life- and limb-preserving treatments.