Unidirectional Barbed Suture Cuts Stitching Time

A new wound closure device based on a nonabsorbable knotless barbed suture enables surgeons to close incisions securely without tying knots.

The V-Loc polybutester (PBT) suture features unidirectional barbed technology, a unique and proprietary self-anchoring loop and barb combination that lets surgeons close wounds quickly and securely, without tying knots or changing standard closure techniques. Testing and research indicate that the use of the absorbable V-Loc device technology can decrease the time needed to close surgical incisions by up to 50%, when compared to standard suturing techniques. Potential uses for the new suture include gynecological procedures such as urethral anastomosis, wedge resection, partial nephrectomy, vaginal cuff closure, and myomectomy closure.


Another potential use for the V-Loc PBT is in dermal closure, largely associated with plastic surgery procedures such as abdominalplasty and breast reductions. But it is also used by obstetricians for closing dermal layers in cesarean sections, and by orthopedic surgeons around closure of the muscle layers and the dermal layers after a total-hip or total-knee replacement. The V-Loc PBT, a product of Covidien (Dublin, Ireland; www.covidien.com), is part of the company’s family of absorbable wound closure devices, which also includes the V-Loc 90 and the V-Loc 180.

“The V-Loc PBT device allows for accurate oversewing of all staple lines, in both bariatric and general surgery cases,” said David Kim, MD, of Forest Park Medical Center (Dallas, TX, USA). “I use it in all of my gastric sleeve and gastric bypass cases when I need another tissue layer of security. It passes smoothly through tissue like a polypropylene suture with a desirable degree of approximation that's uniform throughout the suture line.”

“With this new addition to our knotless suture portfolio, surgeons have an even broader array of choices for closing surgical incisions safely, quickly and effectively,” said Peter Schommer, vice president of wound closure global product marketing at Covidien. “We are committed to consistently developing innovative devices to improve patient outcomes, as well as surgeons' experiences while they operate.”

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