title: Growth of tracheal anastomoses: advantage of absorbable interrupted sutures.
abstract: Growth of the trachea after complete transection and anastomosis was studied in four groups of 1-month-old New Zealand white rabbits. The trachea was transected at the fifth cartilaginous ring and then anastomosed with continuous 6-0 polypropylene (Prolene) (group 1), interrupted 6-0 polypropylene (group 2), continuous 6-0 polydioxanone (PDS) (group 3), or interrupted 6-0 PDS (group 4). The animals were followed up for 90 to 103 days (mean follow-up, 95 days). At the time the animals were killed, body weight had increased 125% (1.2 to 2.7 +/- 0.18 kg). Growth of the trachea was assessed at the time of death. Results from this study suggest that growth of a tracheal anastomosis is retarded in a growing animal model. The degree of resultant stenosis was significantly less when an absorbable suture material (PDS) and an interrupted suturing technique were used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: McKeown
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuboi
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Togo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tuck
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gordon
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D005355:Fibrosis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000209:etiology; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011091:Polyesters; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D014132:Trachea / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014135:Tracheal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011126:Polypropylenes; D016687:Polydioxanone