Vaginal cuff closure during robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy: Comparing vicryl to barbed sutures

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Empirical evidence is needed to assess clinical appropriateness of any new surgical device or material. Differences in surgical outcomes between Vicryl figure-of-8 and V-Loc barbed sutures for vaginal cuff closure during robotic hysterectomy were assessed. Methods: We examined the electronic medical records of 202 patients who underwent scheduled robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign indications, without concomitant urogynecologic procedures, between January 2008 and November 2010 at the Henry Ford Health System academic medical center. Cuff closure approach was selected by the surgeon. Data on demographics, vaginal cuff suture type, body mass index (BMI), estimated blood loss (EBL), perioperative hemoglobin change, procedure duration, hospital length of stay (LOS), specimen weight, and postoperative complications were obtained. Results: The average age was 46 y (SD = 8.0 y). Women with Vicryl figure-of-8 closures (n = 133) were more likely than women with V-Loc barbed suture closures (n = 69) to have had a LOS > 1 d (48/133, 36.1% vs. 12/69, 17.4%; chi square P