Long-term in vivo comparison of histopathological effects of two barbed sutures and a conventional suture material in a rat model.

Background: Urological repairs require secure suturing for effective healing. While conventional sutures like Vicryl are common, barbed sutures offer knotless options. This study aims to compare the histopathological effects of barbed and conventional sutures on the bladder.

Method: Forty-eight adult Wistar female rats underwent bladder suturing with one of three suture materials: V-Loc^™ 90, Quill^™, or Vicryl. Each rat's anterior bladder wall was sutured with the designated material, and rats were sacrificed at 6- and 9-weeks post-surgery for histopathological evaluation. Tissue reaction, inflammatory reaction, fibrosis, and suture dissolution were assessed by a blinded pathologist.

Results: Vicryl sutures showed significant reductions in tissue reaction, inflammatory reaction, and fibrosis from 6 to 9 weeks (p < 0.05). Quill sutures exhibited an increase in fibrosis over the same period (p < 0.001), while V-Loc sutures showed no significant changes. Comparative analysis revealed Vicryl had the best overall performance in terms of reduced tissue reaction and inflammation.

Conclusions: Vicryl sutures demonstrated superior long-term histopathological outcomes compared to barbed sutures, indicating their potential preference for reconstructive bladder surgeries. Our findings emphasize the necessity of conducting additional studies on different anatomical tissues as well as refining suture selection for various surgical situations.