Cystotomy closure. A comparison of the strength of appositional and inverting suture patterns.

Dorsal cystotomies were performed in 60 healthy dogs. Twenty bladders were closed with a single-layer interrupted appositional suture pattern, 20 with a two-layer interrupted appositional suture pattern, and 20 with a two-layer continuous inverting suture pattern. Four dogs from each group were euthanatized at hours 0, 3, 12, 18, and 24. Mechanical strength of the cystotomy closures was evaluated by calculating the circular bursting wall tension. The single-layer interrupted appositional suture pattern was as strong as both two-layer suture patterns at hours 3, 12, 18, and 24. The two-layer interrupted appositional suture pattern was as strong as the two-layer continuous inverting suture pattern during the first 24 hours.