From the Research
If a stratafix thread remains in the abdomen and is holding the bowel, immediate surgical consultation is recommended to prevent serious complications. This retained suture material requires removal through a reoperation procedure, as it can cause serious complications including bowel obstruction, perforation, or fistula formation 1. The barbed nature of stratafix sutures makes them particularly problematic when retained, as they can progressively catch and entangle bowel loops. During reoperation, the surgeon will carefully identify and remove the retained suture material while assessing for any bowel injury that may have occurred. Following removal, patients typically require close monitoring for signs of infection, bleeding, or bowel dysfunction. The risk of complications from retained suture material stems from the body's inflammatory response to foreign material and the mechanical trauma that can occur as the barbed suture interacts with moving bowel loops 1. Some studies have shown that the use of absorbable sutures, such as stratafix, can reduce the risk of surgical site infection in certain types of surgery 2, but this does not apply to the situation where the suture is retained and causing complications. Patients should be monitored for fever, increasing abdominal pain, distension, or changes in bowel function, which could indicate developing complications. It is essential to prioritize the removal of the retained suture material to prevent long-term morbidity and mortality, and to improve the patient's quality of life. The most recent and highest quality study on the topic of retained suture material is from 2021, which highlights the importance of prompt removal of retained suture material to prevent complications 1. In summary, the key points to consider are:
- Immediate surgical consultation is recommended to remove the retained stratafix thread
- The retained suture material can cause serious complications, including bowel obstruction, perforation, or fistula formation
- Patients require close monitoring for signs of infection, bleeding, or bowel dysfunction after removal of the retained suture material
- The use of absorbable sutures, such as stratafix, can reduce the risk of surgical site infection in certain types of surgery, but this does not apply to the situation where the suture is retained and causing complications.