title: Pedicle ligation in ovariohysterectomy: an in vitro study of ligation techniques.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ligature failure is an important complication following ovariohysterectomy in the bitch. The aim of this study was to assess the differences between five individual ligation techniques in their ability to attenuate a bulky vascular model.
  
  
  METHODS
  A vascular model was constructed that enabled the occlusive ability of five different ligation techniques to be measured including the square knot, surgeon's knot, slip knot, modified transfixing ligature and the single-double other side knot. Each was constructed using both USP-0 polyglyconate and polyglactin 910 suture material. The extent of attenuation of the vascular model that was achieved by each technique was assessed using pressure transducers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this model, the slip knot, modified transfixing ligature and the single-double other side knot outperformed the square and surgeon's knots.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this study suggest that utilising a knot design that has more inherent resistance to slippage of the first throw (e.g. the modified transfixing ligature, slip or single-double other side knots) may be preferable over square and surgeon's knots when tying a ligature on a bulky vascular pedicle like the ovarian stump in a large bitch.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Leitch
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.forename: N J G
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cann
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lopez-Vilalobos
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008026:Ligation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008422:Materials Testing; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength