Suture Types - "Macrocharacteristics"/Highlights

Dexon (Polyglycolic acid)

- Rapidly absorbable (~90 days), synthetic, braided

Catgut

- Rapidly absorbable (variable, ~70 days), natural, twisted (not uniform in diameter)

Monocryl (Poliglecaprone 25)

- Rapidly absorbable (120 days), synthetic, monofilament

Vicryl (Polyglactin 910)

- Rapidly absorbable (56-70 days), synthetic, braided

Caprosyn (Polyglytone 6211)

- Rapidly absorbable (~56 days), synthetic, monofilament

What is particular about Catgut?

- Causes a large amount of tissue reactivity

What suture type is generally used for closure of the skin/intradermal sutures at the VTH (i.e. in spay/neuter lab)?

- Monocryl (Synthetic, monofilament, rapidly absorbed (120 days))

PDS (Polydioxanone)

- Slowly absorbed (~180 days), synthetic, monofilament

Maxon (Polyglyconate)

- Slowly absorbed (~180 days), synthetic, monofilament

Biosyn (Glycomer 631)

- Slowly absorbed (90-110 days), synthetic, monofilament

What suture type is generally used for closure of the linea alba at the VTH (i.e. in spay/neuter lab)?

- PDS (slowly absorbed (~180 days), monofilament, synthetic)

Silk

- "non-absorbable" (though it will eventually deteriorate by 2 years), natural, braided

Polypropylene

- Non-absorbable, synthetic, monofilament

Polyester

- Non-absorbable, synthetic, monofilament or braided

Stainless steel

- Non-absorbable, metallic, monofilament or multifilament

Nylon

- Non-absorbable, synthetic, monofilament (can be braided)

What is particular about silk suture?

- Causes a tremendous amount of tissue reactivity; even more than Catgut because silk sticks around longer

What is a common clinical use for polypropylene suture?

- Incredibly strong -> Used in things like tendon repairs

What suture type is generally used for closure of the muscle/fat/subcutis at the VTH (i.e. in spay/neuter lab)?

- Monocryl (rapidly absorbable (120 days), monofilament, synthetic)