Microvascular anastomosis with absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures--a comparative study in rats.

Polyglycolic acid, polypropylene, and nylon sutures were used to anastomose the aortas of 40 rats. Comparative studies of the healing process at the suture sites were performed. The long-term observations, by means of light and scanning electron microscopy, revealed that the regeneration of endothelium was more rapid and the endothelium had a smoother surface in the aortas that received the polyglycolic acid sutures than in the aortas receiving polypropylene or nylon sutures because the polyglycolic acid sutures were absorbed after 6 weeks. It was concluded that polyglycolic acid suture material may be more desirable than nonabsorbable suture material in microvascular anastomoses.