Assessment of suture materials for intestinal use by an extramucosal implant technique and a quantitative histological evaluation.

Six suture materials, 5 of which are in common use for intestinal suture, were implanted in the small and large bowel of the rabbit, and thereafter the durability of their tensile strength and the histological reaction produced were assessed at standard times over 64 days. Absorbable sutures (catgut and polyglycolic acid) lose strength too rapidly to provide reliable sole support, though the synthetic absorbable produces only a slight reaction. Non-absorbables maintain their strength. Only minor differences exist between the reactions produced by different non-absorbables. Other considerations such as handling characteristics or the results of clinical work should be borne in mind in the selection of the optimum suture material.