Comparison of bidirectional barbed suture Stratafix and conventional suture with intracorporeal knots in laparoscopic myomectomy by office transvaginal hydrolaparoscopic follow-up: a preliminary report

Abstract Objectives To compare surgical outcomes of different types of intracorporeal sutures for laparoscopic posterior myomectomy, by a prospective randomized study. Study design Prospective randomized study on 47 patients with single posterior intramural myoma (4–7 cm in diameter) undergoing laparoscopic myomectomy. The patients enrolled were divided into two groups, one operated using conventional suture in double strand, and the other with bidirectional barbed suture Stratafix. The main outcome measures were suturing time, peri-operative variables, and post-operative adhesions in both groups. Results The mean operative time was shorter with the Stratafix™ than with the conventional suture (66.3 ± 8.2 vs. 73 ± 8 min; p = 0.005). Suturing time was significantly shorter in the Stratafix™ than in the control group (8.8 ± 2.4 vs. 15.5 ± 2.8 min; p = 0.001). Intraoperative bleeding was significantly less in the Stratafix group ( p = 0.0012). Conversely, there was no statistically significant difference for postoperative adhesions between the two groups (26.7% vs. 21.4% p = 0.5). Conclusions The use of barbed suture may reduce operative time, suturing time, and blood loss. No difference in post operative adhesions was found.