Influence of suture material and technique on end-to-end reconstruction intracheal surgery: An experimental study in sheep

Resection and end-to-end anastomosis of the trachea represent the preferred treatment for various benign and malignant diseases involving the trachea. Various studies have reported conflicting results with alternative techniq ues and suture materials for tracheal anastomosis. Our objective was to eva luate three frequently used techniques concerning stenosis rate and histolo gical reaction in a large-animal species. Tracheal resection of 3 cm and en d-to-end anastomosis were performed in 15 sheep with the use of three diffe rent techniques. In the first group, an interrupted suture with polyglactin , in the second group an interrupted suture with polydioxanone, and in the last group a continuous suture with polypropylene were used. The animals we re killed 1, 2, 4, 8, and 24 weeks postoperatively. The luminal stenosis wa s determined by means of computerized planimetry. All three techniques appe ared to be appropriate for tracheal anastomosis. The luminal stenosis devel oped within the first 8 weeks after surgery. A cross-sectional area of appr oximately 40-70% was finally achieved. Differences dependent on the suture material are less important than the technical details of the operation. Co pyright (C) 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel.