Running Suturing: The Ideal Length Facilitates This Task

Abstract
Background and Purpose: Laparoscopic intracorporeal suturing is difficult, a complex task involving several integrated skills such as needle handling, suturing, and knotting. Running suturing is even more complex in the closed environment secondary to the angles of the suture lines, the tension maintained on the suture line, and the need to secure the ends, including tying a knot from the tail of the suture to the loop of the preceding stitch. We have hypothesized that the ideal suture length facilitates this process, and this study was specifically designed to determine the ideal suture length for an intracorporeal running suture. Materials and Methods: Latex phantoms were incised for 1 or 2 cm, and each was marked with black points to indicate suture entrance and exit sites. These marks were placed 2 mm from the incision, starting 2 mm proximally and ending 2 mm distally. Suture lengths could then be varied in direct proportion to the length of the incision, keeping all of these points as const...

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