Ex vivo comparison of the bursting strength of an equine ventral midline celiotomy covered by two standard abdominal bandages

Abstract

Objective: To determine the compressive effect of abdominal bandages after ventral midline celiotomy closure in horses. Study design: Ex vivo, experimental study. Animals: Equine cadavers (n = 18), six per group. Methods: A 20-cm ventral midline celiotomy was created in each of 18 equine cadavers. A 200-L inflatable bladder was placed in the abdomen, and the linea alba was apposed. Horses were randomly assigned to no bandage (C), elastic (E), or Velcro inelastic (I) bandage groups for testing. Circumferential bandages were placed with a subbandage pressure monitoring system over the incision. The bladder was insufflated until construct failure, which was determined by a decrease in pressure reading. Bursting pressure, location of body wall or bandage failure, and subbandage pressures were recorded. Results: Maximum bursting pressure was different between groups E and C (P = .004), with no difference between groups E and I (P = .146) or I and C (P = .085). Group I achieved higher subbandage pressure compared with group E (P = .036). Abdominal compliance was not different between groups (P = .099). Location of failure differed between groups (P = .011), with failure at the diaphragm more common in group I (6/6, 100%) compared with groups E (3/6 [50%]) and C (1/6 [16.7%]). Conclusion: Elastic abdominal bandages had higher abdominal bursting pressures compared with unbandaged incisions.

Comparison of incisional bursting strength of a bidirectional absorbable knotless suture material versus a standard continuous absorbable suture material for closure of the equine linea alba

“…Despite this, USP2/EP5 suture materials, including polydioxanone, are commonly used in clinical practice following colic surgery with no reported increase in incisional complications 22,28,30,31,35,39 . In this study, bursting strengths and mode of failure following closure of the equine linea alba were assessed using an ex vivo model and determined based on a single cycle to failure as previously described 27,29,32–34,37,38 …”

“…The aim of the study described here was to determine whether a bidirectional barbed suture material could be used for closure of the equine linea alba. An ex vivo model described by Magee and Galuppo, 29 and validated by others, 27,32–34,37,38 was used to determine bursting strengths and mode of failure of the equine linea alba 29 . It was hypothesized that a bidirectional polydioxanone barbed USP2/EP5 suture material could reduce surgical time, reduce the amount of suture left in the incision and have a higher bursting strength compared to closure using a standard polydioxanone USP2/EP5 suture in a simple continuous pattern.…”

Acute abdominal dehiscence following laparotomy: A multicentre, international retrospective study

“…22,23 It is unknown whether similar changes also occur in pregnant/ early post-partum mares, but it would seem reasonable to monitor the incision in this group of horses, particularly where other factors such as SSI have developed. Early additional support to the body wall using abdominal bandages and other support devices results in higher abdominal bursting pressures 24 and may be considered in these high risk patients.…”