title: Biomechanical behaviour of native and sutured bronchi: An in-vitro study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biomechanical behaviour evaluation of a suture is an important information for the surgeon to choose the best technique to perform.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the biomechanical behavior of the native and mechanically sutured bronchi.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten bronchi were harvested from slaughtered pigs and then randomly separated in two groups, a control intact group and a sutured group where specimens were cut in half and sutured, to evaluate mechanical properties during a tensile test using a loading frame machine. In addition optoelectric motion tracking system was used to evaluate suture profile motion during the test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the two groups for the parameters investigated. The control group showed a higher maximal stress resistance and stiffness than the suture group, while elongation at rupture was increased in the sutured group. All the sutures broke in symmetric manner, as the mean of the side difference of the sutured specimens was 0.93 ± 0.80 mm at rupture.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Biomechanical behaviour of native and sutured bronchi was evaluated, giving highly reproducible parameters regarding mechanical properties that may help clinicians and bioengineers to rationalize the choice for a particular suture material or suture technique, increasing surgical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerca Traslazionale per L'Apparato Locomotore Nicola Cerulli, LPMRI, Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Gian Luca
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Gervasi
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, University of Perugia Medical School, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vannucci
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerca Traslazionale per L'Apparato Locomotore Nicola Cerulli, LPMRI, Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tiribuzi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerca Traslazionale per L'Apparato Locomotore Nicola Cerulli, LPMRI, Arezzo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Freddolini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001980:Bronchi / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D012421:Rupture / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D013537:Sutures; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength
keywords: Suture; bronchi; mechanical properties; optoelectronic motion analysis; tensile test