What are Antibacterial Vicryl Sutures Made of and What are Their Absorbable Suture Properties

Synthetic absorbable sutures offer the strength needed for a wide range of applications, from abdominal and chest wound closure to ophthalmic and plastic surgery. Once such example is the Antibacterial Vicryl Suture, which is a synthetic, absorbable, sterile, surgical suture. It is a copolymer made from ninety percent glycolide and ten percent L-lactide. Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial Suture is coated with a mixture composed of equal parts of a copolymer of glycolide and lactide (polyglactin 370) and calcium stearate. Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial suture contains IRGACARE MP, which is one of the purest forms of the broad spectrum antibacterial agent triclosan.

Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial suture offers protection against bacterial colonization of the suture. In vivo studies demonstrate that Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial suture has a zone of inhibition that is effective against the disease causing organisms that most often cause surgical site infection  Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, methicillin resistant staphylococcus epidermidis. In vivo studies demonstrate that Vicryl Plus Antibacterial suture has no adverse effect on normal wound healing. Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial suture performs and handles the same and has the same dependable construction as Coated Vicryl suture. In vivo testing by surgeons demonstrates the same excellence in performance and handling.

The suture is available in the market in two forms: When it is not dyed (naturally in a beige hue) and when it is dyed. The dyed form comes in violet color. Coated Vicryl  Plus suture is indicated for use in general soft tissue approximation and or ligation requiring medium support, except for ophthalmic, cardiovascular and neurological tissues. Frequent uses include general closure, bowel, orthopedic, and plastic surgery. Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial suture retains approximately seventy five percent of the original tensile strength at two weeks post implantation. At three weeks, approximately fifty percent of the original strength is retained. At four weeks, approximately twenty five percent of the original strength is retained. All of the original tensile strength is lost by five weeks post implantation. Absorption of Coated Vicryl Plus Antibacterial Suture is fundamentally complete between fifty six and seventy days.

Some of the major factors which can affect tensile strength loss and absorption rates are the type of suture, infection, and tissue sites. Plain gut generally absorbs more rapidly than chromic gut. Surgical gut is absorbed more rapidly in infected tissue than in non infected tissue. Surgical gut will absorb more rapidly in tissues where increased levels of enzymes are present, as in the secretions exhibited in the stomach, cervix and vagina. Physicians should consider the in vivo performance when selecting a suture for use in patients. . As with any foreign body, prolonged contact of any suture with salt solutions, such as those found in the urinary tracts may result in calculus formation.

Antibacterial Vicryl suture is only being made by Ethicon Inc. at this time. All Ethicon product codes related to Antibacterial  Vicryls begin with the prefix VCP.

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

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