A morphologic study on the effect of suturing the submucosa of the large intestine.

Five suture materials, chromic catgut, braided silk, Prolene, Teflon coated braided Dacron and Dexon have been examined morphologically for their effect on the submucosal collagen structure of the large intestine. The rougher surfaced materials, such as catgut, braided silk and Dexon, cause considerable damage to the submucosa on either side of an intestinal anastomosis. Because of this damage, it would appear that these sutures are more likely to jeopardize the integrity of an intestinal anastomosis.