title: Unidirectional barbed suture versus continuous suture with intracorporeal knots in laparoscopic myomectomy: a randomized study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the effectiveness of unidirectional knotless barbed suture and continuous suture with intracorporeal knots in the repair of uterine wall defects during laparoscopic myomectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical study (Canadian Task Force Classification I).
  
  
  METHODS
  Single-center study in a university hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study enrolled 44 women who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  In accord with to the randomization, the uterine wall defects were closed either with a continuous suture with intracorporeal knots (group V) or a unidirectional knotless barbed suture (group L).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The time required to suture the uterine wall defect was significantly lower in group L (11.5 ± 4.1 minutes) than in group V (17.4 ± 3.8 minutes; p <.001). However, no significant difference was observed in the operative time between the 2 study groups. The intraoperative blood loss was significantly lower in group L than in group V (p =.004). The degree of surgical difficulty was significantly lower in group L (3.7 ± 1.1) than in group V (6.1 ± 2.1; p <.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The unidirectional knotless barbed suture may facilitate the suture of uterine wall defects during laparoscopic myomectomy. When compared with continuous suture and intracorporeal knots, the barbed suture reduces the time required to suture the uterine wall defect and the intraoperative blood loss.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Martino Hospital and University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alessandri
authors.forename: Valentino
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Remorgida
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ferrero
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D018231:Leiomyomatosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*