Light-activated photosealing with human amniotic membrane strengthens bowel anastomosis in a hypotensive, trauma-relevant swine model.

BACKGROUND

Gastrointestinal anastomotic leakage is a dreaded complication despite advancements in surgical technique. Photochemical tissue bonding (PTB) is a method of sealing tissue surfaces utilizing photoactive dye. We evaluated if crosslinked human amniotic membrane (xHAM) photosealed over the enteroenterostomy would augment anastomotic strength in a trauma-relevant swine hemorrhagic shock model.

METHODS

Yorkshire swine (40-45 kg, n = 14) underwent midline laparotomy and sharp transection of the small intestine 120 cm proximal to the ileocecal fold. Immediately following intestinal transection, a controlled arterial bleed was performed to reach hemorrhagic shock. Intestinal repair was performed after 60 minutes and autotransfusion of the withdrawn blood was performed for resuscitation. Animals were randomized to small intestinal anastomosis by one of the following methods (seven per group): suture repair (SR), or SR with PTB augmentation. Animals were euthanized at postoperative Day 28 and burst pressure (BP) strength testing was performed on all excised specimens.

RESULTS

Mean BP for SR, PTB, and native tissue groups were 229 ± 40, 282 ± 21, and 282 ± 47 mmHg, respectively, with the SR group statistically significantly different on analysis of variance (p = 0.02). Post-hoc Tukey all-pairs comparison demonstrated a statistically significant difference in burst pressure strength between the SR only and the PTB group (p = 0.04). All specimens in SR group ruptured at the anastomosis upon burst pressure testing, while all specimens in the PTB group ruptured at least 2.5 cm from the anastomosis.

CONCLUSION

Photosealing with xHAM significantly augments the strength of small intestinal anastomosis performed in a trauma porcine model.