A comparison of Mersilene and polyglycolic acid sutures in pararectal abdominal wounds after appendectomy.

A total of 206 patients were subjected to operation for acute appendicitis through a pararectal laparotomy. Mersilene was used in 101 and polyglycolic acid (PGA, Dexon) in 105 patients as buried sutures for the closure of the abdominal wall, including the fascial layer. Wound complications developed after Mersilene in 23 and after PGA in 10 cases. PGA did not lead to an increased frequency of early wound infections. Granulomata or fistulae developed after Mersilene in 18 patients, but not in any of the cases in which PGA was used. Wound rupture and incisional hernia did not occur in any of the patients in the two groups.