Experimental porcine study.

Several recent studies indicate that resorbable sutures result in a reduced inflammation in the arterial vessel wall, when compared to the traditional non-resorbable sutures. This inflammatory process is responsible for the healing, but can also lead to a wide variety of complications such as stenosis of the operated vessel and thrombus formation, while the foreign material left in the body can nest bacterial infections. All of these complications are rare but may result in increased morbidity and mortality.

Therefore, this study seeks to examine the possibility of replacing the non-resorbable suture with resorbable suture to reduce the risk of the above mentioned complications. The risk associated with such a replacement is that the suture is degraded too soon resulting in leakage or rupture of the vessel.

To quantify how a change in suture affects both mechanical and biological properties of the vessels, we aim to operate a series of pigs and surgically dividing both the carotid arteries. We will then perform bilateral end-to-end anastomoses using resorbable suture on one side and non-resorbable suture on the other. The pigs will then be sent to stable for a certain amount of time before termination. After termination the operated tissues will undergo both mechanical and histological investigations to quantify the effects of each suture over time and to compare the two types of suture.

The purpose of this study is to examine if the utilization of resorbable suture to perform arterial anastomoses will reduce the surrounding inflammation while retaining adequate mechanical strength to support the tissue while healing.

• Dennis O. Ammitzskov, BSc, Medical Student
• Marcell J. Tjørnild, MD, PhD Student
• Johannes H. Jedrzejczyk, BSc, PhD Student
• Jens V. Nygaard, MSc, PhD, Associate Professor
• Trine Tramm, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Consultant
• J. Michael Hasenkam, MD, DMSc, Professor