The Effect of Bidirectional Barbed Sutures on the Duration of Common Enterotomy Closure in Intracorporeal Anastomosis.

Abstract

The adoption of intracorporeal anastomosis in minimally invasive surgery for colon cancer has gradually expanded owing to its many advantages. However, intracorporeal anastomosis has the disadvantage of a longer operative time than extracorporeal anastomosis. One reason that intracorporeal anastomosis takes longer to perform is the closure of the common enterotomy. The present study evaluated the effect of bidirectional barbed sutures on the duration of common enterotomy closure in intracorporeal anastomosis for minimally invasive colectomy. The time required for common enterotomy closure was measured with a simulator using an intestinal model. A two-layer suture with continuous full-thickness suture followed by a continuous serosal-muscular suture was adopted. The time required to close the common enterotomy using two unidirectional barbed sutures and one bidirectional barbed suture was measured five times each. The duration of common enterotomy closure using bidirectional barbed suture was significantly shorter than that using two conventional barbed sutures. Bidirectional barbed sutures are useful for closing the common enterotomy in intracorporeal anastomosis for minimally invasive colectomy.