Vicryl (Polyglactin 910) (Synthetic)
Other names: Polysorb (Covidien)
Dexon (Covidien)
Color: Cream (undyed)
Purple (dyed)
Multifilament Braided
Absorbable by hydrolysis (breaks down / dissolves in the presence of water)
Length of time to absorb: about 70ish days
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes
Used across most specialties
PDS II (p-dioxanone) (Synthetic)
Other names: Maxon (although similar not
exactly the same)(Covidien)
Color: Clear (undyed)
Purple (dyed)
Monofilament
Absorbable by hydrolysis (breaks down / dissolves in the presence of water)
Length of time to absorb: about 240ish days
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes
Used across many specialties, however, frequently in Fascial closures of open abdominal cases. Also used frequently in pediatrics where strength is needed as well as absorbability (since children are still growing Non-Absorbable sutures are not good choices).
Monocryl (poliglecaprone 25) (Synthetic)
Other names: Biosyn (Covidien)
Color: Clear (undyed)
Purple (dyed)
Monofilament
Absorbable by hydrolysis (breaks down / dissolves in the presence of water)
Length of time to absorb: about 120ish days
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes
Used most notably for skin closure.
Perma-Hand Silk (Fibroin) (natural)
Other names: Silk (Covidien)
Color: Black
Braided Multifilament
Non-Absorbable, though tensile strength is lost over time by proteolytic enzymatic degradation
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes
Used frequently to tie off vessels before / after transection & Bowel anastomosis. This suture may also be used a a drain stitch
Ethibond Excel (Polyester) (Synthetic)
Other names: Surgidac (Covidien)
Ti-Cron (Covidien)
Tevdec (Deknatei)
Color: White (undyed)
Green (dyed) (most common)
Braided Multifilament
Non-Absorbable, does not lose tensile strength
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes (usually tapered needles)
Ethibond is used frequently in Cardiovascular surgery b/c of it’s attributes of being non-absorbable, keeping it’s tensile strength, as well as being almost non-reactive with surrounding tissue. Ethibond is also a favorite for open hernia repairs as primary fascial closure & tacking sutures for the mesh. This suture has also been used in open abdominal fascial closures & as retention sutures for dehisced or temporarily non-closable wounds. Ethibond is also used in orthopedics for tendon repairs as well as joint capsule closure
Ethilon (Nylon) (Synthetic)
Other names: Monosof (Covidien)
Color: Clear (undyed)
Green (dyed)
Black (dyed)
Monofilament
Non-Absorbable, loss of tensile strength over time by hydrolysis
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes (usually cutting needles)
Nylon is frequently used in skin closure (pt has to come back for suture removal), securing drains & in ophthalmology.
Plain Gut (Cow Serosa or Sheep Submucosa) (Collagen) (Natural)
Other names: none that I am aware of
Color: Cream
Monofilament (twisted)
Absorbable by proteolytic enzymatic degradation (the breakdown of proteins, eventually into amino acids) Absorbs faster in infected areas
Length of time to absorb: about 70ish days
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes (usually tapered needles)
Packaged in alcohol to preserve it from drying out. It is important to dip the suture in saline or water to wash off the alcohol (which is an increased fire hazard. Also, as the suture dries out (happens quickly) an occasional re-dip is necessary. Plain suture is used frequently in scrotal procedures. It is also sometimes used to close dead space in incisions where a seroma formation might be expected.
Chromic Gut (Cow Serosa or Sheep
Submucosa) (Collagen) (Natural)
Other names: none that I am aware of
Color: Brown
Monofilament (twisted)
Absorbable by proteolytic enzymatic degradation (the breakdown of proteins, eventually into amino acids) Absorbs faster in infected areas
Length of time to absorb: about 90ish days
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes (usually tapered needles)
Packaged in alcohol to preserve it from drying out. It is important to dip the suture in saline or water to wash off the alcohol (which is an increased fire hazard. Also, as the suture dries out (happens quickly) an occasional re-dip is necessary. Chromic suture is used frequently in the Urological specialty, like bladder & scrotal procedures. It is also sometimes used to close dead space in incisions where a seroma formation might be expected. This suture may be used on vaginal lacerations as well
Fiberwire (UHMWPE)(Ultra-High Molecular
Weight PolyEthylene) (Synthetic)
Other names: ForceFiber (Tornier)
Max Braid (Biomet)
Color: Light Blue (dyed)
White & Black Striped (dyed)
2 Layer Braided Multifilament
Outer Layer: Polyester
Inner Layer: UHMWPE
Non-Absorbable, does not lose tensile strength
Comes in a variety diameters & needle sizes
Most commonly used in Orthopedics for tendon repairs & joint capsular closures. Most arthroscopic anchor repairs use this suture.
The center of this suture is the same material as body armor, armored cars, etc. (cousin to Kevlar)
Same qualities as Monocryl (see photo & description od Monocryl)
Quill Sutures are special because on the strand of these sutures there are small barbs on them that when the suture is passed, the barbs grab & hold the tissue & do not allow the suture to be pulled back out (unless you pull pretty hard). In the center of the strand the barbs go in opposite directions. The suture is inserted in the center of the incision and sewn to the outer edges then fed past the end of the incision & cut flush with the skin. (No knots)
Prolene (Polypropylene) (Synthetic)
Other names: Surgipro (Covidien)
Color: Clear (undyed)
Blue (dyed)
Monofilament
Non-Absorbable, does not lose tensile strength
Comes in a wide variety diameters & needle sizes
Used in open abdominal fascial closure, skin closure, securing of drains, vascular anastomosis / injuries, as well as ophthalmology procedures.
Same qualities as Monocryl (see photo & description of Monocryl)
Quill Sutures are special because on the strand of these sutures there are small barbs on them that when the suture is passed, the barbs grab & hold the tissue & do not allow the suture to be pulled back out (unless you pull pretty hard). In the center of the strand the barbs go in opposite directions. The suture is inserted in the center of the incision and sewn to the outer edges then fed past the end of the incision & cut flush with the skin. (No knots)
Same qualities as PDS (see photo & description of PDS)
Quill Sutures are special because on the strand of these sutures there are small barbs on them that when the suture is passed, the barbs grab & hold the tissue & do not allow the suture to be pulled back out (unless you pull pretty hard). In the center of the strand the barbs go in opposite directions. The suture is inserted in the center of the incision and sewn to the outer edges then fed past the end of the incision & cut flush with the skin. (No knots)
