A new synthetic absorbable suture.

The experimental synthetic absorbable suture XLG is a co-polymer derived from lactic and glycolic acid through lactide and glycolide intermediates. Determinations of the rate of loss of strength in various sites in experiments on dogs show that XLG loses strength slightly more rapidly than does chromic catgut. An exception is sutures suspended in the stomach, where catgut quickly loses strength, whereas XLG maintained strength similar to that at other implantation sites.