Ex vivo biomechanical comparison of V-LOC 180® absorbable wound closure device and standard polyglyconate suture for diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy in a canine model.

Objective: To compare 2-0 polyglyconate barbed suture (V-LOC™ 180 Absorbable Wound Closure Device, Covidien, Mansfield, MA) to standard 2-0 monofilament absorbable polyglyconate suture (Maxon™, Covidien) for maximum load to failure and failure mode when used to appose standardized defects in canine diaphragm muscle.

Study Design: Randomized, cadaveric ex vivo mechanical testing.

Sample Population: Canine cadaveric hemi-diaphragmatic specimens (n = 32 pairs).

Methods: Thirty-two cadaveric diaphragm specimens were collected and divided to obtain 64 muscle specimens (9 cm × 4 cm). Paired specimens were bisected in the midpoint of their 9 cm length in the direction of the muscle fibers and apposed using either 2-0 polyglyconate or 2-0 barbed polyglyconate (V-LOC™ 180 Absorbable Wound Closure Device) in a simple continuous pattern. Increasing tension was applied perpendicular to the suture line until specimen failure. Failure mode and maximum load to failure were recorded for each specimen.

Results: Mean ± SD failure load of simulated herniorrhaphies performed with barbed polyglyconate suture (54.5 ± 10.27 N) was not significantly different than repair with polyglyconate (56.9 ± 10.87 N). Failure mode for both construct types was suture tear out rather than suture failure.

Conclusions: Clinical application of 2-0 barbed polyglyconate suture can be considered as an alternative to the use of 2-0 polyglyconate for diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy.