Laser tissue soldering of the gastrointestinal tract: A systematic review LTS of the gastrointestinal tract

Ido Ashbell; Nadav Agam; Abraham Katzir; Svetlana Basov; Max Platkov; Itzhak Avital; Ilana Nisky; Uri Netz

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16018

Laser tissue soldering of the gastrointestinal tract: A systematic review LTS of the gastrointestinal tract

Heliyon. 2023 May 1;9(5):e16018. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16018. eCollection 2023 May.

Authors

Ido Ashbell¹, Nadav Agam¹, Abraham Katzir², Svetlana Basov³, Max Platkov⁴, Itzhak Avital^{1

5

6}, Ilana Nisky⁷, Uri Netz^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Goldman School of Medicine, Ben Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
² School of Physics & Astronomy, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
³ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
⁴ Nuclear Research Center Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
⁵ Department of Surgery A, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
⁶ Legacy-Heritage Oncology Center, Larry Norton Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
⁷ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.

Abstract

Background: Laser Tissue Soldering (LTS) is a promising tissue bonding technique in which a solder is applied between the tissues and then irradiated by laser, causing it to solidify and form links with the tissue.

Methods: A comprehensive systematic review summarizing the state of research of LTS in the gastrointestinal tract.

Results: Most studies were conducted on large animal tissues, using liquid proteinaceous solder, and irradiated by a continuous wave laser at 808 nm. LTS can provide better sealing and burst pressure than conventional methods. The application of LTS on top of or in addition to sutures showed an impressive increase in burst pressures. LTS may decrease the inflammatory and foreign body reaction caused by sutures.

Conclusions: LTS has strong potential to be applied in a clinical setting in leak prevention and in closure of gastrointestinal structures as an adjunct or additional anastomotic technology, decreasing leak rates, morbidity, and mortality.

Keywords: "Laser tissue soldering"; “Gastrointestinal anastomosis"; “Gastrointestinal tissue”; “Tissue bonding”.

Publication types

Review