Bursting strength evaluation. Comparison of 0-Prolene sutures and endoscopic staples in an experimental prosthetic...

Recently, titanium staples have been designed to stabilize a small prosthetic mesh used for laparoscopic herniorrhaphy. Unlike the giant prosthesis employed by Stoppa, the small mesh must be fixed to the surrounding musculo-aponeurotic defect. The strength of these titanium staples has never been evaluated and was compared to 0-Prolene sutures. In an ex vivo study, we evaluated the maximal stress (bursting strength [BS]) a repair performed with 0-Prolene sutures or staples can bear. Bilateral abdominal-wall defects were created in 16 piglets. A Prolene mesh was fixed preperitoneally on one side of the abdomen with 0-Prolene sutures and on the other side with the Endopath EMS stapler or the Endo Hernia stapler. The mean BS of meshes attached with 0-Prolene was 1,461.7 mmHg. The mean BS of meshes fixed with Endopath EMS staples was 885.5 mmHg and that of meshes fixed with Endo Hernia staples was 665.2 mmHg. A repair with 0-Prolene sutures is stronger (P < 0.05) than one with staples (Endopath EMS or Endo Hernia). Also, repair with an Endopath EMS stapler has a significantly higher BS (P < 0.05) than one with the Endo Hernia stapler. In the second part of the study, evaluation of the longitudinal tensile strength also showed that 0-Prolene sutures are stronger (P < 0.05) than staples. Endopath EMS staples are stronger (P < 0.05) than Endo Hernia staples.