A comparison of interrupted and continuous sutures for tracheal anastomoses in sheep.
OBJECTIVE
To study the tensile strength of tracheal anastomoses.


METHODS
Experimental study.


METHODS
University medical school laboratory, Germany.


METHODS
15 sheep.


METHODS
Tracheal anastomoses with three different suturing techniques: a continuous suture and interrupted sutures with either a monofilament or a polyfilament material. Anastomoses were tested to breaking after being in place for 1, 2, 4, 8 or 24 weeks.


RESULTS
After one week, with all three materials, the trachea broke at the anastomosis. In animals that survived longer, the trachea broke further away from the anastomosis. There was no significant difference between the mean values of the breaking force for continuous sutures and single interrupted sutures (p = 0.9).


CONCLUSIONS
The suturing technique (continuous or interrupted) has less relevance for the tensile strength of the anastomosis than in vitro experiments suggest.
Klinik für Viszeral- und Transplantationschirurgie, Hannover, Germany. behrend@chir.uhl.uni-freiburg.de
Matthias
M
Behrend
Eva
E
Kluge
Wolfgang
W
Schüttler
Jürgen
J
Klempnauer
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D023421:Models, Animal; D016687:Polydioxanone / Q000494:pharmacology; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000494:pharmacology; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D011336:Probability; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures / Q000145:classification*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
D011126:Polypropylenes; D016687:Polydioxanone; D011098:Polyglactin 910