Suturable Mesh Demonstrates Improved Outcomes over Standard Suture in a Porcine Laparotomy Closure Model

BACKGROUND: Laparotomy closures fail due to suture pull-through. I hypothesize that a suturable mesh may limit pull-through via mechanisms of force distribution and fibrous encapsulation of the device filaments. METHODS: Fifteen domestic swine 74 kg in size were randomly allocated to three groups for laparotomy closure with either size 0 suturable mesh, number 1 suturable mesh, or number 1 polypropylene. All three devices were placed in running fashion with 1-cm bites and 1-cm travels. Primary endpoints were hernia formation at 13 weeks and a semiquantitative analysis of the histological tissue response. Secondary endpoints included adhesions, surgical site occurrence (SSO), and documentation of “loose sutures.” RESULTS: There were numerically fewer hernias in the number 1 suturable mesh group. Nine of the 10 suturable mesh devices were well encapsulated within the tissues and could not be pulled away, whereas four of the five polypropylene sutures were loose. Adhesions were least for number 1 suturable mesh. Histologically, the suturable mesh implanted devices showed good fibrovascular ingrowth and were judged to be “nonirritants.” The soft-tissue response was statistically greater (P = 0.006) for the number 1 suturable mesh than for the number 1 polypropylene. CONCLUSIONS: The mechanism by which meshes support closure sites is clearly demonstrated with this model. Suturable mesh has the potential to change surgical algorithms for abdominal wall closure.