title: The use of barbed suture for bladder and bowel repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the laparoscopic repair of bladder and bowel injuries using barbed suture and review postoperative outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective medical chart review (Canadian Task Force classification II-3).
  
  
  METHODS
  Large academic medical institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-three women who underwent laparoscopic repair of the bladder and/or bowel wall using barbed suture between January 2009 and July 2013.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients underwent a total of 9 cystotomies (27.3%), 7 enterotomies (21.2%), 4 bladder seromuscular injuries (12.1%), 12 bowel seromuscular injuries (36.4%), and 1 bladder and bowel seromuscular injury (3.0%). Of the 33 injuries, 17 (51.5%) were intentional in the setting of bladder or bowel endometriosis nodule excision, whereas the other 16 (48.5%) were accidental and occurred at the time of lysis of adhesions. Thirteen of 14 bladder injuries (92.9%) were at the dome, and 1 injury (7.1%) was at the trigone. Fifteen of 20 bowel injuries (75%) were rectal, 3 (15%) were on the colon, and 2 (10%) were on the small intestine. Cystotomies ranged in length from 1 to 5 cm, and enterotomies ranged from 1.5 to 6 cm. All bladder and bowel seromuscular injuries were repaired using a single layer of barbed suture. Twelve full-thickness bladder or bowel wall defects (75%) were repaired using 2 layers of barbed suture, and 4 defects (25%) were repaired using a layer of barbed suture and a layer of a running or interrupted smooth delayed absorbable suture. Duration of follow-up ranged from 1 month to 15 months. There were no major complications. Only 1 patient who had undergone a large enterotomy repair developed constipation secondary to a mild rectal stricture diagnosed 3 months postoperatively. Symptoms of constipation since resolved spontaneously in that patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Barbed suture provides adequate tension-free bladder and bowel repair. No major complications have been encountered; therefore, the use of barbed suture for the repair of bladder or bowel defects seems feasible and safe.
authors: Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA. Electronic address: dinachamsy@hotmail.com.
authors: Dina
authors: D
authors: Chamsy
authors: Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors: Cara
authors: C
authors: King
authors: Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA.
authors: Ted
authors: T
authors: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013536:Suture Techniques; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000601:surgery*
keywords: Barbed suture; Cystotomy repair; Enterotomy repair; Laparoscopy