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Background: Bacteria that produce collagen-digesting enzymes (collagenolytic bacteria) have been shown to play a critical and previously unappreciated role in anastomotic leak pathogenesis by breaking down host tissue extracellular matrix proteins. Detection of these bacteria is labor intensive, and no screening method currently exists., Objectives: We evaluated a rapid screening method developed to detect the presence of these collagenolytic bacteria in clinical samples, such as drain fluid, anastomotic tissue, or feces., Design: We compared a new method of detecting collagenolytic bacterial species with a previously used technique using samples from a murine experimental model and then demonstrated the utility of this screening method in samples from patients with anastomotic complications., Settings: All of the laboratory work and previous murine experiments were performed in Dr Alverdy's laboratory at the University of Chicago under institutional review board-approved protocols., Patients: Samples from patients with challenging wound complications were provided by participating clinicians with verbal patient consent. Given the small number of patients, this was determined to be institutional review board exempt., Main Outcome Measures: Whether this analysis can influence patient management and outcomes will require additional study., Results: This screening method detects numerous strains of bacteria with collagenolytic properties, including the collagenolytic species that have been implicated previously in anastomotic leak. Once collagenolytic strains are identified, they can be speciated and tested for antibiotic resistance using standard laboratory techniques., Limitations: This study is limited by the small number of patient samples tested., Conclusions: We demonstrated the potential applicability of this assay to evaluate rare and complex anastomotic complications that often require analysis beyond standard culture and sensitivity assays. Future applications of this method may allow the development of strategies to prevent anastomotic leak related to collagenolytic bacteria. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A962.

Background: Despite ever more powerful antibiotics, newer surgical techniques, and enhanced recovery programs, anastomotic leaks remain a clear and present danger to patients. Previous work from our laboratory suggests that anastomotic leakage may be caused by Enterococcus faecalis strains that express a high collagenase phenotype (i.e., collagenolytic). Yet the mechanisms by which the practice of surgery shifts or selects for collagenolytic phenotypes to colonize anastomotic tissues remain unknown., Methods: Here, we hypothesized that morphine, an analgesic agent universally used in gastrointestinal surgery, promotes tissue colonization with collagenolytic E. faecalis and causes anastomotic leak. To test this, rats were administered morphine in a chronic release form as would occur during routine surgery or vehicle. Rats were observed for 6 days and then underwent exploratory laparotomy for anastomotic inspection and tissue harvest for microbial analysis. These results provide further rationale to enhanced recovery after surgery (i.e., ERAS) programs that suggest limiting or avoiding the use of opioids in gastrointestinal surgery., Results: Results demonstrated that compared to placebo-treated rats, morphine-treated rats demonstrated markedly impaired anastomotic healing and gross leaks that correlated with the presence of high collagenase-producing E. faecalis adherent to anastomotic tissues. To determine the direct role of morphine on this response, various isolates of E. faecalis from the rats were exposed to morphine and their collagenase activity and adherence capacity determined in vitro. Morphine increased both the adhesiveness and collagenase production of four strains of E. faecalis harvested from anastomotic tissues, two that were low collagenase producers at baseline, and two that were high collagenase producers at baseline., Conclusion: These results provide further rationale to enhanced recovery after surgery (i.e., ERAS) programs that suggest limiting or avoiding the use of opioids in gastrointestinal surgery.

Competing Interests: The authors have nothing to disclose.

We describe a new removable sliding polyglactin 910 suture noose for postoperative suture adjustment following extraocular muscle surgery. No excess suture material remains after adjustment has been completed, helping to reduce discomfort, inflammation, and scarring. We have used this noose with the cul-de-sac conjunctival incision in approximately 360 patients over a period of 18 months. This report details how to fashion, use, and remove the noose., (Copyright © 2013 American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)