Duet laparoscopic repair with knotless barbed sutures for treatment of perforated peptic ulcer: reality in general surgery with lacking of manpower

BACKGROUND: Perforated peptic ulcer (PPU) is a fatal complication of peptic ulcer disease, which requires emergency surgery. Laparoscopic repair is the widely accepted and effective method for the treatment of PPU. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of duet laparoscopic repair of PPU with knotless barbed sutures. METHODS: From January 2013 to May 2019, 40 patients with PPU underwent laparoscopic primary repair and omentopexy at the Dankook University Hospital. The operative outcomes and complications of patients undergoing surgery using continuous suturing with absorbable knotless barbed sutures (group A, n=15) were compared with those undergoing surgery with conventional interrupted sutures (group B, n=25). RESULTS: The mean operative time was significantly shorter in group A than group B (84.4±39.8 vs. 104.2±49.4 min, P<0.001). There were no differences in other operative outcomes or postoperative complications (group A vs. group B, 20.0% vs. 24.0%, respectively; P=0.249) between the two groups. The mean operation time spent for laparoscopic sutures and omentopexy was 22.7 minutes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of the current study, albeit performed retrospectively at a single institution, suggested that duet laparoscopic repair of PPU with knotless barbed sutures might be considered as an alternative option, especially in hospitals lacking manpower.