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You et al: Evaluation of a knotless barbed suture for canine total lung lobectomy: An ex vivo study
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Barbed sutures showed comparable leakage pressure to traditional sutures and stapling devices (p = .36).
  • No bronchial leaks occurred at physiological pressure (<20 cmH₂O) in any group.
  • Leakage at supraphysiologic pressure (20–80 cmH₂O) occurred in 90% of stapler, 80% of traditional, and 60% of barbed suture closures.
  • Barbed sutures reduced ligation time significantly compared to traditional sutures (10.7 vs. 14.1 minutes, p < .01).
  • Staplers remained fastest, with mean ligation time of 2.4 minutes.
  • No knot failure or suture breakage was observed in barbed or traditional suture groups.
  • Leakage in barbed sutures occurred mostly at the loop effector zone, but remained within acceptable limits.
  • Barbed sutures may offer an effective alternative when staplers are unavailable, impractical, or cost-prohibitive.

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← Articles

You et al: Evaluation of a knotless barbed suture for canine total lung lobectomy: An ex vivo study
Veterinary Surgery 7, 2025

🔍 Key Findings

  • Barbed sutures showed comparable leakage pressure to traditional sutures and stapling devices (p = .36).
  • No bronchial leaks occurred at physiological pressure (<20 cmH₂O) in any group.
  • Leakage at supraphysiologic pressure (20–80 cmH₂O) occurred in 90% of stapler, 80% of traditional, and 60% of barbed suture closures.
  • Barbed sutures reduced ligation time significantly compared to traditional sutures (10.7 vs. 14.1 minutes, p < .01).
  • Staplers remained fastest, with mean ligation time of 2.4 minutes.
  • No knot failure or suture breakage was observed in barbed or traditional suture groups.
  • Leakage in barbed sutures occurred mostly at the loop effector zone, but remained within acceptable limits.
  • Barbed sutures may offer an effective alternative when staplers are unavailable, impractical, or cost-prohibitive.

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Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In You 2025 et al., on barbed sutures for lung lobectomy, how did the leakage pressure of barbed sutures compare with other techniques?

A. Significantly higher than staplers
B. Significantly lower than traditional sutures
C. Comparable to both stapling and traditional sutures
D. Only effective in large dogs
E. Ineffective above 30 cmH₂O

Answer: Comparable to both stapling and traditional sutures

Explanation: Leakage pressures among the three groups (ST, TR, BA) were statistically similar (p = .36), supporting comparable effectiveness.
In You 2025 et al., on barbed sutures for lung lobectomy, what was the observed leakage rate at physiological airway pressure (<20 cmH₂O)?

A. 90% in all groups
B. Leakage only in stapler group
C. Leakage only in traditional suture group
D. Leakage only in barbed suture group
E. No leakage in any group

Answer: No leakage in any group

Explanation: None of the bronchial closure techniques showed leakage at <20 cmH₂O, the physiological pressure threshold.
In You 2025 et al., on barbed sutures for lung lobectomy, what conclusion was made regarding their clinical use?

A. They are unsafe in small breeds
B. They require complex knotting
C. They may be a practical alternative to staplers
D. They are contraindicated in thoracoscopy
E. They eliminate the need for suturing experience

Answer: They may be a practical alternative to staplers

Explanation: The authors conclude that barbed sutures may offer a viable alternative to staplers when cost or anatomy limits stapler use.
In You 2025 et al., on barbed sutures for lung lobectomy, what was the most common site of air leakage in the barbed suture group?

A. At suture line midpoints
B. At oversewn distal margin
C. At bronchial vessel entry
D. At loop effector end
E. At knot locations

Answer: At loop effector end

Explanation: Leakage in the BA group was most frequently seen near the loop effector zone, although overall leakage remained low.
In You 2025 et al., on barbed sutures for lung lobectomy, what was the main advantage of barbed sutures compared to traditional sutures?

A. Lower cost of materials
B. Higher leak resistance
C. Reduced ligation time
D. Fewer suture throws required
E. Improved hemostasis

Answer: Reduced ligation time

Explanation: Barbed sutures significantly reduced bronchial ligation time vs traditional sutures (10.7 vs 14.1 minutes, p < .01).

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