Biodegradation of absorbable sutures in body fluids and pH buffers.
OBJECTIVE
This study measures the influence of body fluids on the loss of tensile strength of absorbable sutures in vitro.


METHODS
Nine synthetic absorbable sutures were incubated in different gastrointestinal fluids, as well as in blood and three buffers. Stretch tests were performed after days 0, 7, 14, and 21.


RESULTS
Tensile strength varied from 18.5 to 32.8 N, and elasticity varied from 9.5 to 51% of the initial length. The influence of pH, blood, and gastric juice was negligible on all sutures except PDS II. Except for Monocryl, all sutures, especially Polysorb and Vicryl, lost tensile strength much faster in bile, jejunal and pancreatic juices than in the corresponding buffers.


CONCLUSIONS
The biodegradation of sutures varies greatly in different body fluids independent of differences in pH.
Freudenberg
S
S
Department of Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Germany. s.freudenberg@marienkrankenhaus.com
Rewerk
S
S
Kaess
M
M
Weiss
Christel
C
Dorn-Beinecke
A
A
Post
S
S
D020341:Absorbable Implants; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D013537:Sutures; D013718:Tensile Strength
D001672:Biocompatible Materials