Continuous vertical hemimattress suture for biliary-enteric anastomosis

The continuous hemivertical mattress suture technique for biliary-enteric anastomosis has not been well reported in the literature. We used the technique with a double-armed monofilament absorbable suture (Glycomer 631) for 32 anastomoses in 31 patients. There was one anastomotic leakage (3.1%). The mean follow-up period was 683 days, during which time no patient developed anastomotic stenosis or cholangitis. The technique provided satisfactory results with lower cost than one-layer interrupted sutures.