Optical strain measurement and tear-out behavior of sutured porcine small intestine tissue using a standarized procedure

Some of the major complications leading to high morbidity and mortality rates in intestine surgery are caused by anastomotic insufficiencies. As the suture represents a crucial factor for the successful treatment of intestine anastomosis, it is of critical importance to investigate the tearing of sutured tissue. The goal of this study consists in examining the tear-out characteristics of stitched porcine small intestinal tissue as a function of the position of the stitch, using an optical strain measurement system. Furthermore, the hole formation of two different suture materials (monofilament and braided) with a single stitch is examined and compared. A clear trend for strain characteristic cannot be found for all number of stitches. In the case of four stitches however, it can be observed that for four out of six samples the outer stitches show a higher strain distribution than the inner ones. The comparison of the hole formation indicates that tissue stitched with monofilament PDS II tears by exhibiting a broader deformation pattern than tissue stitched with braided Vicryl.