Work

Miniaturized Sensors Registering the Long-Term Course of Suture Tension In Vivo under Varying Intra-Abdominal Pressure

Year: 2018

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Failure of laparotomy closure develops after up to 20% of abdominal operations. Suture tension has an influence on the quality of tissue regeneration. No sensors are available to register suture tension dynamics in vivo. METHODS: In a series of animal experiments, the effect of suture tension on the ultrastructure of the healing incision was examined. Surgeons' ability to suture with target tension was tested. An implantable sensor and data logger were developed and tested experimentally in sutures closing midline laparotomies in pigs both under normal and elevated intra-abdominal pressure. RESULTS: High suture tension has a negative influence on the regeneration of laparotomy incisions. Running sutures for laparotomy closure lose 45% of their initial tension over periods of 23 h. Intermittent elevation of intra-abdominal pressure to 30 mm Hg leads to a near total loss of suture tension after 23 h. CONCLUSION: Surgeons are not able to control and reproduce suture tension. Suture tension dynamics can be measured in vivo by the sensor developed. Further research is needed to define a tissue-specific suture tension optimum to reduce the incidence of complications after laparotomy. Techniques for laparotomy closure need to be modified.

Source: Sensors

DOI: 10.3390/s18061729

Authors: Jörg Höer, Oliver Wetter

Institution: Hochschule Bielefeld

Language: English

Topic: Surgical Sutures and Adhesives

Subfield: Surgery

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137