This material fills the need for a smoother and absorbable synthetic suture. In addition, it passes through tissue readily with minimal drag.
Polyglactin sutures facilitate easy handling, due to the fact that they have a smooth tie down as well as unsurpassed knot security. Furthermore, the suture is composed of lactide copolymer and glycoside (polyglactin 910), coated in equals parts with polyglactin 370 and calcium stearate.
After two weeks of post implantation, approximately 79% of the tensile strength of polyglactin suture remains. Approximately 58% of tensile strength is retained after three weeks for sizes 6-0 and larger. At three weeks, 57% of tensile strength is retained for sizes 7-0 and smaller. Following four weeks, 25% of the original strength is retained for sizes 6-0 and larger. However, all of the original tensile strength is lost by week five of post implantation.
Poliglactine has minimal absorption by hydrolysis up to 40 days and essentially complete between 56 and 70 days. Lactide and glycoside acids are readily eliminated from the body, primarily through urine. As with uncoated sutures, polyglactin sutures elicit only a mild tissue reaction during absorption. However, their safety and effectiveness in neural and cardiovascular tissue have not been established. Furthermore, transcutaneous or conjunctive sutures remaining in place longer than seven days may cause localized irritation and should be removed as indicated. In addition, polyglactin sutures are available as violet dyed braided strands and non-dyed natural strands in a variety of lengths with or without needles.