title: Fixation of intestinal tissue using a novel endoscopic device.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to assess the utility and strength of a novel endoscopic fixation device, Brace-Bar, in the large intestine and compare the strength with other currently available techniques. The primary outcome was the strength of fixation using 3 endoscopic methods: BraceBar, suture, and commercially available tackers. The hypothesis is that the use of the BraceBar will result in fixation strength similar to the strength of the other methods.
  
  
  METHODS
  An ex vivo porcine model was used to test 3 fixation methods: Group 1, BraceBar (Prototype); Group 2, ProTack (AutoSuture); and Group 3, TI-CRON suture (Syneture). Large-bowel segments were fixed to abdominal wall tissue at 20 cm from the distal end of the rectum. Primary endpoint was pull away strength. A total of 45 trials of each method were performed. Comparison between the groups was done using JMP 7.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no significant difference in strength between the BraceBar group and the suture group ( P = .1236). The BraceBar method demonstrated significantly higher strength compared with the tacker group (P = .003).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Use of the BraceBar for fixation of the large bowel is at least comparable with suture fixation, making clinical use of BraceBar a reasonable consideration. Use of this device may make endoscopic repair of certain intestinal conditions feasible.
authors.affiliation: Department of Colon and Rectal Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA. jcalisto@gmail.com
authors.forename: Juan Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Calisto
authors.forename: Junichiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Koiana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Trencheva
authors.forename: Olival
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Milsom
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013537:Sutures; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength