[Second generation of absorbable suture material. Tissue reaction and indication (author's transl)].

Polyglycolic acid (PGA) sutures have proved to be superior than other, nonabsorbable suture materials: a higher traction capacity and knot-tearing security, a defined and nearly linear decrease of traction capacity, no immunological reactions, very little capillarity, minimal tissue reaction, nearly no scar formation, and a bactericidal effect. PGA sutures of the second generation have the same advantages, but surgical handling is so much improved that they may be technically employed in unfavorable locations. In the surgery of gastrointestinal tract and respiratory organs there is a trend to connect all layers with one suture.