title: Biosutures improve healing of experimental weak colonic anastomoses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Use of biosutures in animal models of colonic anastomoses is associated with decreased adhesions without affecting anastomotic strength. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of biosutures on colonic anastomoses kept free of adhesions by peritoneal instillation of icodextrin 4%.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three types of colonic anastomoses were compared: group 1, anastomoses without icodextrin 4% and control suture; group 2, anastomoses with icodextrin 4% (adhesion-free anastomoses) and control suture; and group 3, anastomoses with icodextrin 4% (adhesion-free anastomoses) and biosutures. Dehiscence, adhesion formation, and anastomotic strength were evaluated on day 4 after the operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When peritoneal icodextrin 4% was used in anastomoses with conventional sutures, a decrease in the adhesion index (P = 0.01) and a lower bursting pressure (P = 0.15) were observed. When adhesion-free anastomoses were compared, those performed with biosutures had a higher bursting pressure (P = 0.008) and a similar pattern of adhesion index (P = 0.48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biosutures improve the strength of adhesion-free colonic anastomoses.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery C, La Paz University Hospital, Paseo de la Castellana 261, 28046, Madrid, Spain. isabelpasmi@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pascual
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fernández de Miguel
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: García Arranz
authors.forename: Damián
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: García-Olmo
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D005936:Glucans / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005947:Glucose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077607:Icodextrin; D011312:Pressure; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013537:Sutures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D005936:Glucans; D000077607:Icodextrin; D005947:Glucose