Bursting pressure comparison between stapler and staple line reinforcement with sutures and butress biologic material: an experimental study

BACKGROUND: Staple line leaks carry significant morbidity and mortality. Reinforcement is controversial. Several staple techniques have been described for this purpose. Oversuture and butressing material are more common. AIM: To compare these two ways of reinforcement and staple line without any reinforcement regarding the bursting pressure. METHOD: Ten segments of small bowel were created in a pig under general anesthesia. The bowel was inflatted until burst point and the pressure was measured. RESULTS: The staple line bursting pressure was 94 mmHg +/- 18,52mmHg in the stapler technique; 87,5 mmHg +/- 18,59mmHg in the oversuture and 83,33 mmHg +/- 23,04mmHg with Surgisis®. There was no statistic difference among the techniques. CONCLUSIONS: Oversuture or Surgisis® use did not increase the staple line resistance in pig.