Efficacy of staple line reinforcement by barbed suture for preventing anastomotic leakage in laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery

BACKGROUND Anastomotic leakage(AL) is a severe complication in rectal cancer surgery.Various methods, including intracorporeal reinforcing suturing, have been used to reduce the incidence of AL. However, little is known about the efficacy of staple-line reinforcement by barbed suture for preventing AL.AIM To evaluate the efficacy of staple-line reinforcement using barbed suture for preventing AL in laparoscopic surgery for rectal cancer.METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the clinical datum of 319 patients undergoing laparoscopic low anterior resection combined with double stapling technique between May 1, 2017 and January 31, 2021. All surgeries were performed by the same surgical team specializing in colorectal surgery. Patients were divided into two groups depending on whether they received reinforcing sutures. Patients’ baseline characteristics did not show any significant difference between the two groups. We analyzed patient-, tumor-, as well as surgery-related variables using univariate and multivariate logistic analyses.RESULTS There were 168 patients in the reinforcing suture group and 151 patients in the non-reinforcing suture group. AL occurred in 25 cases(7.8%). Its incidence was significantly higher in the non-reinforcing suture group than in the reinforcing suture group(4.8% vs 11.3%, P = 0.031). The multivariate analyses demonstrated that the tumor site, tumor size and presence of staple-line reinforcement were independent risk factors for AL. We divided these patients into two risk groups based on the combination of tumor site and tumor size. Patients without any risk factor were assigned to the low-risk group(n = 177), whereas those having one or two risk factors were assigned to the high-risk group(n = 142). In the high-risk group, the AL incidence considerably decreased in the reinforcing suture group compared with that in the non-reinforcing suture group(P = 0.038). Nonetheless, no significant difference was found in the low-risk group between the two groups.CONCLUSION Staple-line reinforcement by barbed suture may decrease the incidence of AL. A large-scale prospective randomized controlled trial is needed for evaluating the efficacy of staple-line reinforcement for preventing AL.

Prospective Interventional Study to Quantify Barbed Suture Exposure at Vaginal Vault and Assess Post-Operative Risk

Background: The use of barbed suture in laparoscopic surgery is increasing ever since 2008. Published reports of use of unidirectional barbed suture for vaginal vault closure following total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH), indicates it is safe. Despite of this many reports of adhesions and bowel obstruction are reported. This complication was never assessed in relation to amount of suture exposure at vaginal vault. We thought of quantifying the barbed suture exposure at vaginal vault and assess the risk of post-operative complications. Objective: The objective was to quantify the exposure of barbed suture at vaginal vault by adopting a uniform technique of vault suturing and assessing postoperative risk related to adhesions at vaginal vault. Method: In 30 patients who underwent TLH, a uniform new technique of vaginal vault closure using barbed suture was used and the portion of suture exposed at vaginal vault was quantified. The patients were followed up for a period of 6 months to assess post-operative risk of adhesions at vault and sequalae. Result: Mean length of suture exposed was 2.64 ± 1.65 mm only. Suture exposure at vaginal vault was seen in 23 (76.67%) out of 30 patients. The suture was exposed on average at 1.57 ± 1.20 places at vaginal vault. Conclusion and Recommendations: The study with an accepted relative error of 5% quantifies barbed suture exposure at vaginal vault. We had adopted a uniform new method of vaginal vault suturing to study and to quantify barbed suture exposure. It was observed that very minimal portion of suture was exposed at vaginal vault. It was exposed at only a couple of places at vaginal vault. Thus, decreasing suture exposure at vaginal vault will reduce its exposure related risk.

Photometric analysis of absorbable barbed suture for periareolar closure in mastopexy

Aim:The primary author previously described his technique for periareolar closure in mastopexy using a pinwheel interlocking purse string with absorbable barbed suture and now reports the results of a retrospective photometric analysis comparing this technique with the same closure using Gortex®suture.This study is designed to compare the degree of areolar widening and safety profile of using absorbable barbed sutures for periareolar closure versus permanent smooth suture.Methods:A retrospective chart review was conducted of all patients whose periareolar closures were performed using an interlocking purse-string technique over a 10-year period.Only patients undergoing circumvertical mastopexy were included.All had photometric evaluation and follow-up performed within 6-24 months.Results:In total,20 patients(40 areolas),which were closed with absorbable barbed suture,were analyzed photometrically.In this suture group,areola size increased a mean of 4.9%from baseline,and no complications(0%)were observed.This compared favorably with previously reported complication rates using permanent sutures and with a series of cases presented herein in which permanent smooth suture was used for purse string closure.The degree to which absorbable barbed suture controls areolar spread was shown to be significantly better than those where permanent smooth purse string techniques were employed.Conclusion:Circumvertical mastopexy closures using absorbable barbed suture was shown to be safe and effective and compared favorably to older techniques using permanent smooth suture for similar closures.This paper lends support to the safety of using absorbable barbed suture in circumareolar closures to limit areolar spread.

The Outlook of the Development of Innovative Products from Biocompatible Natural Spider Silk in the Beauty Thread-Lifting Industry

Embedding thread lift rhytidectomy,also known as“thread lifting”in China,with the natures of simple operation,less trauma and quick recovery,is progressively used in clinical practice as a new technology of face lifting.Herewith,a brief introduction of the previous advances of thread lifting techniques and materials in the facial beauty industry,combined with the discussion on various types of sutures,common complications,and the site of actions were provided.The main limitations of present thread lifting material include:(1)the use of non-absorbable sutures is liable to cause allergies and a series of complications;(2)the absorbable sutures are easily degradation,and people need to reshape in a relatively short period.Therefore,the high biocompatible spider silk was proposed as a novel material of thread lifting suture and related devices,the advantages and preliminary achievements on spider silk were also addressed.