An implantable sensor device measuring suture tension dynamics: results of developmental and experimental work

Purpose: Knowledge about suture tension dynamics after laparotomy closure is limited due to the lack of adequate measurement tools. As a consequence, a miniaturized implantable sensor and data logger were developed and applied experimentally in a porcine model to measure suture tension dynamics after laparotomy closure.

Material and methods: We developed an implantable device (6 × 3 × 1 mm) fitted with silicon strain gauges and an implantable data logger allowing long-term registration. In nine domestic pigs, sensors and loggers were implanted along the suture closing a median laparotomy registering suture tension over a period of 23 h.

Results: Fascial closure was achieved by a mean suture tension of 1.07 N. After 30 minutes, suture tension was reduced to 0.81N (-24.3 %, p = 0.0003). After 12 h, tension showed a further decrease to 0.69 N (-35.5 %, n.s.), after 23 h mean suture tension reached 0.56 N, (-47.7 %, p = 0.014).

Conclusions: The aim to develop an implantable miniaturized sensor device registering long-term suture tension dynamics was achieved. The use in the animal experiment was feasible and safe. We observed a loss of almost 50 % of suture tension 23 h after fascial closure. This could mean that up to 50 % of initial suture tension may be an unnecessary surplus not contributing to tissue stability but to the risk of suture failure.