Investigation of mechanical properties of polymer membranes developed for sealing interintestinal anastomoses

BACKGROUND: One promising area in abdominal surgery is the use of polymer membranes (PM) as a means for preventing intestinal anastomotic leak. Investigation of physical and mechanical properties of PM will enable evaluating their handling properties and predict changes of the material before and after surgical intervention. AIM: To study in comparative aspect mechanical properties of new PM samples developed for sealing intestinal anastomoses. METHODS: Study materials were new multicomponent PM samples, developed at the Experimental Surgery and Oncology Laboratory of Kursk State Medical University (five sample groups, each with a different antibacterial agent), and an ElastoPOB® implantable biopolymer membrane (BIOMIR Service, Russia). The study was conducted with the use of a tensile testing machine to evaluate uniaxial tension and metal ball-punching (according to GOST 8847-85). The data were ranked for illustrative purposes. RESULTS: The highest maximum puncture load (Me = 193.85 N) was recorded in the group of samples No. 4 (with the addition of iogexol and levofloxacin), the lowest (Me = 17.84 N) in the group No. 6; the highest breaking extension (Me = 60.5) was recorded in the group of samples No. 5 (with the addition of metronidazole to the 3rd layer), the lowest (Me = 25.4) in the group No. 6 (ElastoPOB®). The highest flexibility on puncturing (Me = 11.0 mm) was demonstrated in the experiment in the samples of group No. 5, and the lowest (Me = 7.35 mm) in the samples of group No. 6. According to the results of ranking, by increasing number of rank points (from best to worst) the groups of samples were arranged as follows: No. 3 → No. 1, 2, 5 → No. 4 → No. 6. CONCLUSION: The physical and mechanical properties of the PMs developed by the authors’ team (groups No. 1–5) are comparable to those of the registered ElastoPOB® analog and possess high strength and elastic properties.