The Optimal Surgical Needle for Tendon Suture: Cutting Edge or Reverse Cutting Edge?

Background. Achieving a durable connection between the lacerated tendon ends is difficult. The outcome of treatment depends on many factors. Several authors consider the properties of the surgical needle used for suturing the tendon to be important. The aim of the study— to compare the strength of the tendon suture applied with the conventional cutting edge and reverse cutting edge surgical needles in the experiment.Materials and Methods.We used porcine tendons for the experiment. The tendon fragments were divided into 2 groups of 20 tendons each. On all 40 tendons, the same type of “injury” of the tendon was simulated — using a scalpel. In the first group, the interrupted suture of the tendon was applied with a cutting edge surgical needle, in the second group — reverse cutting edge. Laboratory tests of the tendon sutures strength were performed on the improvised stand.Results.In the first (suture made with a cutting needle edge), diastasis of 2 mm was determined at an average load of 1219.5 g (m = ±76.56, where «m» is the representativeness error). Complete suture failure occurred at an average load of 1770.8 g (m = ±100.02). In this group, the thread rupture was not recorded. In the second group (a suture made with a reverse cutting edge needle), diastasis occurs with an average load of 1754.75 g (m = ±77.32). Complete suture failure occurred at an average load of 2571.25 (at m= ± 103.78). In three cases, the thread ruptured. In the second group (reverse cutting edge needle), the tendon suture strength was statistically significantly higher than in the first group. Conclusion. The tendon suture strength depends on the surgical needle properties. In tendons reconstruction the reverse cutting edge needle use is more preferable compared to the conventional cutting edge needle use.

CT-guided transthoracic needle biopsy of pulmonary lesions: comparison between the cutting needle and aspiration needle

Objectives: To compare CT-guided transthoracic cutting needle biopsy (TCNB) with transthoracic aspiration needle biopsy (TANB) for pulmonary lesions with respect to the diagnostic accuracy and complication rate. Methods: Of the 859 cases that underwent consecutive CT-guided biopsy of pulmonary lesions, 713 cases confirmed by surgical pathology or clinical follow-up were enrolled. Of these, the first consecutive 275 cases underwent TANB, and the remaining 438 received TCNB. The final diagnosis determined the accuracy of biopsy. Based on the post-biopsy CT and clinical medical records, the presence or absence of biopsy-related complications was determined. The χ2 test was used to compare the differences between TCNB and TANB in terms of diagnostic accuracy and complication rate. Results: Among the 713 biopsy lesions, the final diagnosis was malignant in 411 cases and benign in 302 cases. As compared to TANB, the diagnostic accuracy of TCNB (98.9% vs 93.8%, χ2 = 14.35, p < 0.01), sensitivity to malignant lesions (97.8% vs 90.6%, χ2 = 10.58, p < 0.01), negative predictive value (97.6% vs 84.8%, χ2 = 19.03, p < 0.01), and specific diagnostic rate for benign lesions (73.4% vs 57.9%, χ2 = 7.29, p < 0.01) were improved. On the other hand, a statistical difference was detected between TCNB and TANB with respect to the incidence of pneumothorax (20.6% vs 13.1%, χ2 = 6.46, p = 0.01), hemorrhage (32.2% vs 13.1%, χ2 = 33.03, p < 0.01), and hemoptysis (8.2% vs 3.3%, χ2 = 6.87, p < 0.01). One patient died just several minutes after TCNB due to severe hemorrhage with hemoptysis. Conclusions: Compared to TANB, CT-guided TCNB improves the diagnostic accuracy of pulmonary lesions, but complication rate increases significantly. Advances in knowledge: In general, TCNB should be recommended, especially for highly suspicious benign lesions. For patients with small lesions adjacent to vessels or vessels within the lesion, TANB should be considered.

Computed tomography-guided cutting needle biopsy for lung nodules: when the biopsy-based benign results are real benign

Background: Computed tomography (CT)-guided cutting needle biopsy (CNB) has been widely used for the diagnosis of lung nodules (LNs). The false-negative rate of CT-guided lung biopsy is reported to be up to 16%. The aim of this study was to determine the predictors of true-negative results in LNs with CNB-based benign results. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2015, 96 patients with CNB-based non-specific benign results were included in this study as the training group to detect predictors of true-negative results. From January 2016 to December 2018, an additional 57 patients were included as a validation group to test the reliability of the predictors. Results: In the training group, a total of 96 patients underwent CT-guided CNB for 96 LNs. The CNB-based results were true-negatives for 82 LNs and false-negatives for 14 LNs. The negative predictive value of the CNB-based benign results was 85.4% (82/96). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses revealed that CNB-based chronic inflammation with fibroplasias (P = 0.013, hazard ratio = 0.110, 95% confidential interval = 0.019–0.625) was the independent predictor of true-negative results. The area under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.697 (P = 0.019). In the validation group, biopsy results for 47 patients were true-negative and 10 were false-negative. When the predictor was used on the validation group, the area under the ROC curve was 0.759 (P = 0.011). Conclusions: Most of the CNB-based benign results were true-negatives, and CNB-based chronic inflammation with fibroplasias could be considered a predictor of true-negative results.