Absorbable suture materials for vascular anastomoses. Tensile strength and axial pressure studies using polyglycolic acid sutures.

This study attempted to evaluate how vascular healing itself is sufficient enough to provide adequate strength to autogenous vein grafts in small arteries without the use of nonabsorbable sutures. The absorbable suture, Dexon, was used in small canine femoral vein graft anastomoses over a two-month trial period with nonabsorbable Prolene as a control. Tensile strength and resistance to axial leak were measured. Results show that Dexon had 93 per cent of the tensile strength of Prolene immediately; 76 per cent at 14 days, 111 per cent at 21 days, and 110 per cent at 30 days, and 124 per cent at 60 days as an average for all suture lines. The per cent mean resistance to leakage that Dexon had compared to Prolene for all suture lines was 102 per cent at seven days, 97 per cent at 14 days, 107 per cent at 21 days, and 97 per cent at 30 days. There is no evidence of aneurysms, suture line disruptions, dilations, or infections of any anastomoses. Our ultimate conclusion is that the integrity of small autogenous vein graft is dependent on healing rather than on the permanent strength of the suture material and that Dexon maintains vascular integrity long enough to permit this healing to occur.