TITLE:
Early Detection of Colonic Anastomotic Leakage in a Swine Model Using Continuous pH Monitoring
AUTHORS:
Nour Helwa, Manaswi Sharma, Manasvi Vanama, Diana Khater, Olivia Rennie, Youssef Helwa, Abdallah El-Falou, Joao Rezende-Neto
KEYWORDS:
Anastomotic Leak, StreamTM Platform, pH, Electrical Conductivity, Early Prediction
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Gastroenterology,
Vol.15 No.12,
December
25,
2025
ABSTRACT: Background: Anastomotic leaks (AL) are a deadly postoperative complication. This study evaluated the efficacy of StreamTM Platform, a medical device designed to provide early prediction of AL using changes in peritoneal fluid pH and electrical conductivity (EC). Methods: StreamTM Platform was attached to the JP drain of 17 Yorkshire pigs, continuously measuring pH and EC or peritoneal effluent in a model of colorectal AL. Anastomotic leaks were surgically induced and confirmed through re-laparotomy. Results: Significant differences in pH were observed between experimental and sham animals two hours following leak induction via continuous measurements (P = 0.02857), at the 24-hour time point in reservoir fluid (P = 0.008), and during final peritoneal fluid collection at re-laparotomy (P = 0.024). Conclusion: This study illustrates the potential of continuous pH monitoring for early detection of anastomotic leaks, using a non-invasive technology—StreamTM Platform—in a model that closely resembles human physiology.