Addition of two full-thickness simple interrupted sutures to standard incisional gastropexy increases gastropexy biomechanical strength.

Objective: To compare the acute strength (failure load and work to failure) of standard incisional gastropexy (SIG) and modified incisional gastropexy (MIG).

Animals: 37 pig cadavers.

Procedures: Stomachs and right abdominal walls were harvested from pigs euthanized for reasons unrelated to this study. The tissues were stored in lactated Ringer's solution overnight in a 5 °C cooler. Matching body wall and stomach tissue pairs were randomized and divided into 2 groups, on which either SIG or MIG was performed the following day. The MIG technique was identical to SIG except 2 additional simple interrupted sutures, 1 cranial and 1 caudal to the continuous suture line, were placed full thickness into the stomach to ensure engagement of the submucosa. After gastropexy, the samples underwent biomechanical testing. Information regarding change in position and load was generated by the MTESTQuattro software. Mode of failure was examined after the procedure was complete.

Results: The MIG had higher failure load and work to failure compared to SIG. All failures were caused by gastric tissue tearing.

Clinical Relevance: The MIG is biomechanically superior to SIG and may provide more security than SIG during healing. However, clinical study is needed to ascertain if there is a difference in gastropexy failure and complications between these 2 techniques.