title: A temporary nontoxic lubricant for a synthetic absorbable suture.
abstract: Synthetic absorbable sutures have been coated with lubricants to improve their handling characteristics. A unique surfactant, poloxamer 188, has been used to coat the surface of the polyglycolic acid sutures. This lubricant was chosen because it does not damage the tissues defenses of the host and invite infection. Since poloxamer 188 is readily soluble in aqueous solutions, it is rapidly absorbed in the tissue environment resulting in an uncoated suture that displays increased knot security. The coating of polyglactin 910 is also minimally reactive in tissues and does not damage tissue defense. In contrast with the coated polyglycolic acid sutures, the knot security of the coated polyglactin 910 sutures is not altered by exposure to an aqueous environment or implantation. The increased knot security of the coated polyglycolic acid suture after implantation is considered to be a distinct clinical advantage over that of the coated polyglactin 910 sutures.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D008153:Lubrication; D051379:Mice; D011060:Poloxalene; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011108:Polymers; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013537:Sutures
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D011098:Polyglactin 910; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011060:Poloxalene