Use of a bipolar sealing device to seal partial cystectomy with and without augmentation with a single-layer simple continuous suture pattern in an ex vivo canine model.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the ability of a bipolar sealing device (BSD) to seal canine bladder tissue and to determine the influence of suture augmentation on resistance to leakage of sealed partial cystectomies.

STUDY DESIGN

Ex vivo, simple randomized study.

SAMPLE POPULATION

Urinary bladders harvested from canine cadavers (n = 23).

METHODS

Partial cystectomy of the cranial third of each bladder was performed with a BSD. This seal was augmented with a simple continuous pattern of 4-0 polydioxanone in half of the specimens. A pressure transducer inserted through the ureter measured intraluminal pressure at initial leakage and catastrophic failure as dyed saline was infused via a catheter inserted through the urethra. Initial leakage pressure and pressure at catastrophic failure were compared between sutured and nonsutured sealed partial cystectomies.

RESULTS

Sutured sealed cystectomies showed initial leakage at lower pressures compared to non-sutured cystectomies (8.6 vs. 17.7 mm Hg; P = .0365) but were able to sustain greater pressures at catastrophic failure (34.3 vs. 21.8 mm Hg; P = .007). Catastrophic failure occurred along the seam of all nonsutured sealed cystectomies and at the suture holes in 10 of the 12 sutured bladders.

CONCLUSION

Partial cystectomies were effectively sealed with a BSD in this canine cadaveric bladder model. Augmentation with a simple continuous suture pattern increased the pressure at which catastrophic leakage occurred but lowered initial leak pressure.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This study provides evidence supporting the evaluation of BSD use for partial cystectomy in live animals.