An intestinal anastomosis is a fairly common surgical procedure usually done during intestinal resections, bypasses, diversions, etc. Typically stapling or suturing is performed to connect proximal and distant parts the intestine, but a new method that uses magnets shows a clinical promise. A new study just published in Journal of the American College of Surgeons assessed Magnamosis, a technique developed by Dr. Michael Harrison at University of California San Francisco that uses two circular magnets to create an anastomosis.
This was the first time that the so called Harrison rings were used on humans. Five patients that required small bowel continuity to be reestablished following complicated urinary reconstructions had the Magnamosis technique performed on them. All five underwent the surgeries successfully and the Harrison rings left the GI systems during bowel movements.
The researchers, having followed the five patients for over a year have reported no complications resulting from the Magnamosis.
Here’s Dr. Michael Harrison himself explaining how Magnamosis works:
Study in Journal of the American College of Surgeons: Magnetic Compression Anastomosis (Magnamosis): First-In-Human Trial…
Product page: Harrison Ring…