What does anastomosis refer to in surgical terms?

Anastomosis in surgical terms specifically refers to the surgical connection made between two segments of bowel or other tubular structures in the body. This procedure is often necessary during surgeries where part of the bowel has been removed due to disease, trauma, or other medical conditions. The goal of anastomosis is to restore continuity of the gastrointestinal tract, allowing for normal function post-surgery.

In this context, the term captures the essence of re-establishing pathways for digestive contents to flow through after resection or to redirect flow when necessary. The technique used in creating anastomoses varies, but it typically involves suturing or stapling the two ends together securely.

While other options describe various surgical procedures, they do not pertain to the specific definition of anastomosis. For example, the removal of a damaged section of intestine describes a resection, attachment of grafts pertains to grafting techniques often used in vascular or reconstructive surgery, and sealing of a wound relates more to closure methods rather than reconnections between bowel segments.