Functional suture-holding layer of the esophagus in the dog.

Several investigators have stated that the suture-holding layer of the esophagus is the mucosa. In this study, the component layers of the esophagus were separated. Segments of the cervical esophageal wall, muscularis, submucosa, and submucosa-mucosa were each sutured, and the suture lines were subjected to tensile forces. When subjected to tensile force, all suture lines failed when sutures pulled through the tissue. The data were subjected to statistical analysis. Based on this analysis, it was concluded that the full esophageal wall had the greatest ability, and the muscularis the least ability, to hold sutures against tension. Therefore, when no significant difference in suture-holding ability between the submucosa alone and the submucosa-mucosa together was demonstrated, it was concluded that the submucosa was the suture-holding layer of the esophagus.