A Retrospective Review of Vaginal Cuff Dehiscence: Comparing Absorbable and Nonabsorbable Sutures.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To compare the rate of spontaneous and complete vaginal cuff dehiscence (VCD) using absorbable versus nonabsorbable sutures for vaginal cuff closure. DESIGN: Retrospective comparative cohort design. SETTING: Freestanding ambulatory surgery center in suburban Maryland. PATIENTS: Women age >18 years old who underwent hysterectomy for benign conditions between October 2013 and April 2018. INTERVENTION: Laparoscopic retroperitoneal hysterectomy was performed by 2 gynecologic surgical specialists. Transvaginal cuff closure was performed using either absorbable Vicryl (polyglactin 910) sutures (n = 881) or nonabsorbable Ethibond (polyester) sutures (n = 574). The nonabsorbable sutures were surgically removed after 90 days. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in age, race, weight, body mass index, parity, uterine weight, or number of comorbidities were noted between the nonabsorbable and absorbable suture groups. Spontaneous vaginal cuff dehiscence (VCD) occurred in 3 patients (0.52%) in the nonabsorbable group and in 12 patients (1.4%) in the absorbable group (p = .183). Eleven of the 12 cases of VCD in the absorbable group were precipitated by intercourse and occurred within 90 days of surgery. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that use of a nonabsorbable suture may be an effective approach to prevent spontaneous VCD, but the benefits should be weighed against the inherent risk associated with a second procedure to remove sutures.

Pouch vs. no pouch following total gastrectomy: meta-analysis and systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: Whether reconstruction after total gastrectomy for gastric malignancies should be done with or without a pouch is a controversial issue in clinical research. There is still no consensus on the reconstruction technique of choice. The aim of this report was to assess the value of pouch formation as a gastric substitute after total gastrectomy compared with reconstruction techniques without a pouch. METHODS: A systematic literature search of the Medline database and the Cochrane Library was carried out and a meta-analysis executed according to the Quality of Reporting Meta-Analyses (QUOROM) statement. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing reconstruction techniques with and without a pouch were eligible for inclusion. All trials were independently assessed by two authors. Data on perioperative parameters, postgastrectomy symptoms, eating capability, body weight, and quality of life were extracted from the RCTs for meta-analysis using random-effects models for the calculation of pooled estimates of treatment effects. RESULTS: Nine RCTs comparing Roux-en-Y reconstructions with and without pouch and four RCTs comparing jejunal interpositions with and without a pouch were included. The results of the meta-analyses show that additional pouch formation does not significantly increase morbidity or mortality and does not considerably extend the operating time or the hospital stay. Patients with a pouch complained significantly less of dumping and heartburn and showed a significantly better food intake postoperatively. Quality of life was significantly improved in patients with a pouch compared with patients without a pouch. This difference even increased over time from 6 to 12 and 24 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis highlights some clinical advantages of pouch reconstruction after total gastrectomy.