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Published on: October 26, 2019
Suture damage during robot-assisted vascular surgery: is it an issue?
Jeroen Diks1, Denise Nio, Matteus A Linsen
1Department of Surgery, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques
|December 22, 2007
Summary
Endoscopic surgery sutures, particularly Prolene and Ethibond, lose strength after robotic manipulation. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sutures resist damage, making them ideal for robotic surgery.
Area of Science:
- Minimally Invasive Surgery
- Surgical Materials Science
- Robotic Surgery
Background:
- Suture manipulation in endoscopic surgery may compromise structural integrity and strength.
- Robotic surgical systems, lacking tactile feedback, may exacerbate suture damage.
- Understanding suture material resilience is crucial for safe robotic procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of robotic manipulation on suture strength.
- To identify suture materials with the highest resistance to robotic manipulation-induced damage.
Main Methods:
- The da Vinci surgical system was employed for suture manipulation.
- Three suture types (Prolene, ePTFE, Ethibond) in sizes 3-0, 4-0, and 5-0 were tested.
- Suture strength was assessed using a Servohydraulic Universal Testing Machine (n=270).
Main Results:
- Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) sutures exhibited no significant strength loss post-manipulation.
- Prolene and Ethibond sutures demonstrated a significant reduction in strength after robotic manipulation.
Conclusions:
- ePTFE sutures are the most resilient to robotic manipulation.
- ePTFE sutures are recommended as the preferred material for robotic endoscopic surgery.
