Laser welding of everted enterotomies in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility of welding everted enterotomies with laser.


METHODS
Open study.


METHODS
21 Male albino rats (mean weight 152 g).


METHODS
28 Full thickness enterotomies (involving 50% to complete circumference of the rat's small intestine) were welded with an Nd-YAG laser non-contact fibre. The bowel ends were everted and held tightly with simple non-toothed forceps during welding.


METHODS
Success or failure judged by the naked eye.


RESULTS
Welding was successful in 14/20 (70%) enterotomies that involved half the circumference of the small bowel but in only 3/8 (38%) when the enterotomy extended further because of inadequate tissue opposition. A new visual end point of welding was noticed.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser welding of everted enterotomies is safe for small enterotomies as judged by the naked eye, but controlled studies are needed before the technique can be tested in humans.
Farag
A
A
Laser Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt.
Nasr
S E
SE
el Ashkar
M F
MF
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats