title: Effect of electrocautery vs. scalpel on fascial mechanical properties after midline laparotomy incision in rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The method of midline laparotomy incision and closure remains a complex surgical problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the mechanical properties at the interface of midline laparotomy incision made by scalpel versus electrocuting current in rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sharp midline laparotomy incision was made in 60 Wistar female rats using a scalpel or electrocautery to open the fascia. The fascial and skin wounds were closed separately with a continuous nylon. Fascial specimens were analyzed for mechanical properties at the midline incision using a loading machine. The load-extension curve was recorded during tensile loading at a steady extension rate of 15 mm/min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in either wound-bursting force (PPEAK) or the strain energy spent until the point of measured PPEAK. Each load-extension curve showed a characteristic pattern in all rats. Tissue stiffness was greater in the scalpel group than in the electrocautery group (P = 0.02). Correlations were found between tissue stiffness and strain energy, between tissue stiffness and bursting force, and between bursting force and strain energy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While tissue stiffness was greater when a scalpel was used compared to electrocuting to incise the midline abdominal fascia in rats, there was no difference in the bursting force required to disrupt the wound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery B, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin (Affiliated to Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University), Israel. y_ziv@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ziv
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brosh
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lushkov
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Halevy
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005260:Female; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013525:Surgical Instruments