Biomechanical properties of feline ventral abdominal wall and celiotomy closure techniques

Abstract

Objective: To compare biomechanical properties and mechanism of failure of 3 regions of ventral abdominal wall in cats by using 2 suture materials, 2 suture bite-to-stitch intervals (SBSI), and full-thickness versus fascia-only closure. Study Design: Randomized, cadaveric, ex vivo mechanical testing. Sample Population: 16 adult cat cadavers, 3 samples per cat. Methods: Three regions of ventral abdominal wall were mechanically tested (N = 48 samples). Preumbilical, umbilical (U), and postumbilical (POU) regions were harvested by using a template. The thickness of the linea alba was recorded. Six samples without celiotomy served as controls. Twenty-eight samples were randomized to SBSI (2 × 2 or 5 × 5 mm) and suture material (3-0 polyglactin 910 or 3-0 polydioxanone) for simple continuous celiotomy closure. Fourteen samples were randomized to full-thickness or fascia-only closure. Samples were tested by linear distraction; tensile strength and mechanism of failure were recorded. Effects of body weight, thickness of linea alba, anatomic region, SBSI, type of closure, and suture material were evaluated by mixed model linear analysis. Load to failure was compared between males and females, full-thickness and fascia-only closure by independent t test, with P