Vicryl 3-0 Absorbable Suture a Suture Material with Multiple Uses

Vicryl 3-0 is an absorbable multifilament suture material manufactured and marketed by Ethicon Inc. It has found use in almost every operation from varying surgical specialities.

About Vicryl 3-0 –

Vicryl sutures are composed of Polyglactin 910 which is a composite of Glycolide and Lactide in a proportion of 90 % is to 10 % respectively. They are available as dyed and undyed varieties and as a braided multifilament suture thread. Vicryl 3-0 has a suture diameter 0.018 mm, i.e. its maximum suture oversize in diameter. This makes it a fine suture material for use in relatively delicate tissues. 

Advantages Of Vicryl 3-0, Absorption Period And How Does It Compare?

Vicryl type sutures have many advantages, is a multifilament braided suture which makes them strong and it becomes uncomplicated for the surgeon to use them in tissues. Antibacterial component in them prevents infection.. This property gives Vicryl good knotting quality as compared to Monocryl which is a monofilament non-braided suture. However, the braiding of the suture threads allows the proliferation of bacteria in the nooks and crevices, especially in the knots. This leads to the potential of infection from the suture placed in the tissues. It is for this reason that Vicryl is not recommended for the closure of wounds with a possibility of infection.

The tissue reaction from Vicryl is milder compared to the naturally absorbable suture material, catgut. It is hydrolysed in tissue and absorption is complete by 60-70 days. Vicryl maintains up to 75 % of its tensile strength by 2 weeks and approximately 40-50% by the end of 4 weeks. This corresponds well to the time taken for the healing of soft tissue. Vicryl maintains adequate tension till healing is adequate.

Due to its property of causing a mild tissue reaction and the potential for infection, Vicryl is generally not recommended for the closure of skin, except in special situations such as wounds which would be enclosed in a plaster cast. In this case, the autolysis of Vicryl and its ‘falling off’ property is advantageous in that suture removal is not necessary.

Tips On Using Vicryl 3-0 And Surgical Sutures In General –

Vicryl is a very pliant suture and has good knotting property. This is exploited in the use of Vicryl sutures for hemostasis and ligature of bleeding vessels. The ends of smaller bleeding vessels can also be transfixed or underrun using Vicryl 3-0. However it important to keep in the mind that Vicryl is not suited for closing infected wounds. Vicryl 3-0 can also be used in the anastomosis of bowel, ligature of hernia sac after reduction of contents, and approximation of subcutaneous tissue prior to closing of skin. It creates adequate tissue reaction to lead to fibrosis and healing of the tissues.

J427H Vicryl 3-0 undyed suture on PS-2 needle (19 mm, cutting, 3/8^th of circle) with suture length of 27” (70 cm) manufactured by Ethicon Inc. 

More information on Vicryl Absorbable Suture, Please Visit: www.sosmedicalsuperstore.com

Order now! Call Toll free: 1800-3675735 or US Local: 305-8855855

Why is Ethibond Polyester Suture a Good Choice for Cardiovascular Surgery

There are several different suture materials used in precise and safe wound closure. Preferably, the choice of the suture material should be based on the biological interaction of the materials employed, the tissue configuration, and the biomechanical properties of the wound. An example of a suture that can be used in such cases is ETHIBOND suture. It belongs to the class of non absorbable sutures. It is a polyester suture that is composed of fibers of polyethylene terephthalate, which is a synthetic linear polyester resulting when glycol is reacted with a dibasic acid. The polyesters are long chains with a high molecular weight and aromatic rings that recur again and again as a vital part of the compound.  Examples of polyester sutures include Surgidac, TiCron made by Syneture Covidien and Ethibond Excel and Ethibond, made by Ethicon.

These polyester sutures were the first man-made braided suture material made known to last for an indefinite period in tissues. Their acceptance in surgery was confined to a small section in the beginning because the suture had a high coefficient of friction. This used to get in the way of the passage through tissue and hampered the construction of a knot. However, with the increase in scientific technology, it was soon learned that these sutures could be coated with a lubricant. Thus, ETHIBOND sutures gained wide acceptance in surgery. This coating markedly reduced the suture’s coefficient of friction, thereby assisting in knot construction and passage through tissue. All TiCron polyester sutures are coated with silicone, while the surface lubricant for Surgidac is Polybutylene adipate. Due to some surgeons liking to tie sutures with a high coefficient of friction, Surgidac sutures are also obtainable without a surface coating.

ETHIBOND Excel sutures are uniformly coated with polybutilate, a biologically non reactive and non absorbable compound that attaches itself to the braided polyester fiber strand. This was the first synthetic coating developed specifically as a surgical suture lubricant. The coating eases the passage of the braided strands through tissue and provides excellent pliability, handling qualities, and smooth tie down with each throw of the knot. Both the suture material and the coating are pharmacologically inactive. The sutures draw out negligible tissue reaction and retain their tensile strength in vivo for long periods of time. No significant change is known to occur in vivo. ETHIBOND Excel sutures are used primarily in cardiovascular surgery, for vessel anastomosis, and placement of prosthetic materials. Anastomosis is the joining together of two organs or vessels that are usually hollow, this is why any preferred brand of polyester suture will work beautifully in valve replacement procedures world wide.

ETHIBOND Excel is available in two forms, green when dyed and white when not dyed. ETHIBOND Excel sutures are also available attached to TFE polymer felt pledgets. These are small flat absorbent pads used to medicate, drain, save a wound from harm or serve to put off possible tearing of adjacent friable tissue. They are used on a regular basis in valve replacement procedures. This is to prevent the annulus from tearing when the prosthetic valve is seated and the sutures are tied. They are also used in situations where extreme deformity, distortion, or tissue destruction occurred.

Properties of PDS II Absorbable Ethicon Suture and some of Its Surgical Use

Absorbable sutures are used to give support to wound edges temporarily, until they have healed enough to endure the regular stresses of the external environment. These sutures are prepared either from the collagen of healthy mammals or from synthetic polymers. Synthetic absorbable sutures are hydrolyzed. This is a process by which water slowly and eventually goes through the suture filaments. This leads to the breakdown of the suture's polymer chain. Hydrolysis results in a smaller degree of tissue reaction following implantation in comparison to the enzymatic action of natural absorbable materials. One example of a synthetic absorbable suture is the PDS II monofilament suture made by Ethicon, and which is deemed to be a wonderful addition to the suture market.  

PDS II is a monofilament that has resulted in a significant advance in suturing options. A monofilament suture is made of a single strand. It stops microorganisms from growing and living in the wound area, and it ties down smoothly. A suture can lose tensile strength rapidly and yet be absorbed slowly. It can maintain adequate tensile strength through wound healing, followed by rapid absorption. In any case, the strand is eventually completely dissolved, leaving no detectable traces in tissue. PDS II sutures are made up of the polyester polydioxanone. There are many advantages of using the PDS II suture. It combines the features of soft, pliable, monofilament construction with absorbability and extended wound support for up to six weeks. It causes only a slight tissue reaction. This material is widely acceptable and preferred for many types of soft tissue approximation, including pediatric cardiovascular, orthopedic, microsurgery and neural tissue, gynecologic, ophthalmic, plastic, digestive, and colonic surgeries.

Like other synthetic absorbable suture, PDS II sutures are absorbed in vivo through hydrolysis. Its tensile strength remains around seventy percent two weeks after the implantation, fifty percent at four weeks after implantation, and twenty five percent at six weeks after implantation. Absorption is negligible until about the 90th day after the operation and is for all intents and purposes complete within six months. The safety and effectiveness of PDS II sutures in microsurgery, neural tissue, and adult cardiovascular tissue have not been established. They may also be impregnated or coated with agents that improve their handling properties, and colored with a dye to increase visibility in tissue. PDS II sutures are available in clear or with a violet dye to increase visibility during a surgery.

PDS Plus Suture has an antibacterial agent added to it. This gives an additional advantage over the regular PDS II. It is indicated for use in soft tissue approximation, including use in pediatric cardiovascular tissue where growth is expected to take place and ophthalmic surgery. However, contact with cornea and sclera is a noted exception. PDS Plus Suture is not indicated in adult cardiovascular tissue, microsurgery, and neural tissue. These sutures are chiefly useful where the combination of an absorbable suture and wound support is indicated for a long period of time.  Up to six weeks is more often than not desirable.