Buttressing staples with cholecyst-derived extracellular matrix (CEM) reinforces staple lines in an ex vivo peristaltic inflation model

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008Background - Staple line leakage and bleeding are the most common problems associated with the use of surgical staplers for gastrointestinal resection and anastomotic procedures. These complications can be reduced by reinforcing the staple lines with buttressing materials. The current study reports the potential use of cholecyst-derived extracellular matrix (CEM) in non-crosslinked (NCEM) and crosslinked (XCEM) forms, and compares their mechanical performance with clinically available buttress materials [small intestinal submucosa (SIS) and bovine pericardium (BP)] in an ex vivo small intestine model. Methods - Three crosslinked CEM variants (XCEM0005, XCEM001, and XCEM0033) with different degree of crosslinking were produced. An ex vivo peristaltic inflation model was established. Porcine small intestine segments were stapled on one end, using buttressed or non-buttressed surgical staplers. The opened, non-stapled ends were connected to a peristaltic pump and pressure transducer and sealed. The staple lines were then exposed to increased intraluminal pressure in a peristaltic manner. Both the leak and burst pressures of the test specimens were recorded. Results - The leak pressures observed for non-crosslinked NCEM (137.8 ± 22.3 mmHg), crosslinked XCEM0005 (109.1 ± 14.1 mmHg), XCEM001 (150.1 ± 16.0 mmHg), XCEM0033 (98.8 ± 10.5 mmHg) reinforced staple lines were significantly higher when compared to non-buttressed control (28.3 ± 10.8 mmHg) and SIS (one and four layers) (62.6 ± 11.8 and 57.6 ± 12.3 mmHg, respectively) buttressed staple lines. NCEM and XCEM were comparable to that observed for BP buttressed staple lines (138.8 ± 3.6 mmHg). Only specimens with reinforced staple lines were able to achieve high intraluminal pressures (ruptured at the intestinal mesentery), indicating that buttress reinforcements were able to withstand pressure higher than that of natural tissue (physiological failure). Conclusions - These findings suggest that the use of CEM and XCEM as buttressing materials is associated with reinforced staple lines and increased leak pressures when compared to non-buttressed staple lines. CEM and XCEM were found to perform comparably with clinically available buttress materials in this ex vivo model.Enterprise Irelan

HIV Testing and Epidemiology in a Hospital-Based Surgical Cohort in Malawi

BACKGROUND: Despite the high prevalence of HIV in adults (11 %) in Malawi, testing among surgical patients is not routine. We examined the feasibility of universal opt-out HIV testing and counseling (HTC) on the surgical wards of Kamuzu Central Hospital in Lilongwe, Malawi, and sought to further delineate the role of HIV in surgical presentation and outcome. METHODS: We reviewed HTC and surgical admission records from May to October 2011 and compared these data to data collected prospectively on patients admitted from November 2011 through April 2012, after universal HTC implementation. RESULTS: Prior to universal HTC, 270 of the 2,606 (10.4 %) surgical admissions were tested; 13 % were HIV-infected. After universal HTC implementation, HTC counselors reviewed 1,961 of the 2,488 admissions (79 %): 310 (16 %) had known status (157 seropositive, 153 seronegative) and 1,651 had unknown status (81 %). Among those with unknown status, 97 % (1,598, of 64 % of all admissions) accepted testing, of whom 9 % were found to be HIV-infected. Patients with longer lengths of stay (LOS) (mean = 11 vs. 5 days, p <0.01) and those who underwent surgical intervention (odds ratio [OR] 2.5; confidence interval [CI] 2.0–3.1) were more likely to have a known status on discharge. HIV was more prevalence in patients with infection and genital/anal warts or ulcers and lower in trauma patients. HIV-positive patients received less surgical intervention (OR 0.69; CI 0.52–0.90), but there was no association between HIV status and length of stay or mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Universal opt-out HTC on the surgical wards was well accepted and increased the proportion of patients tested. High HIV prevalence in this setting merits implementation of universal HTC

Predicting a 'difficult cholecystectomy' after mild gallstone pancreatitis

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