Objective: To compare 2 sutured techniques with a skin stapled technique for typhlotomy closure in bovines.
Study design: Ex-vivo study.
Sample population: Bovine fresh cadaveric ceca (n = 27).
Methods: Typhlotomies (4 cm in length) were made on the cecal apex and closed with 1 of the following techniques: hand-sewn, 2-layer suture consisting of a continuous, full-thickness layer oversewn with a Cushing layer (Group FC); hand-sewn, double inverting suture consisting of a 1st Cushing layer oversewn with an additional Cushing layer (Group CC); skin staples (Group S). Closure time, bursting pressure, and related costs of each technique were calculated and compared.
Results: Median (range) construction time for group S was 1.12 (0.49-1.3) min and was significantly shorter than for group FC 5.14 min (3.45-7.44), and for group CC 4.26 min (2.3-5.52) (95% CI 3.342-4.851), (P = .007). There was no significant difference between bursting pressures of group S (91.67 ± 15.41 mmHg, 95% CI 79.82-103.5) compared with group FC (119.4 ± 40.03 mmHg, 95% CI 88.67-150.2) (P = .160) and compared with group CC (103.3 ± 32.31 mmHg, 95% CI 78.5-128.2) (P = .707) CONCLUSION: Hand-sewn techniques are effective but fairly demanding in terms of time. Skin staples are less time-consuming, and resist pressures comparable to those resisted by handsewn techniques. For this reason, an SKS technique may be a valid option for typhlotomy closure in cattle.
© Copyright 2015 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.