suture materials comparison chart suture materials comparison chart numerous different surgical suture materials exist. the following table compares some of the most common adsorbable sutures. plain catgutchromic catgutpolyglycolide (p.g.a.)polydioxanone (pds) descriptionadsorbable biological suture material. plain is an adsorbable suture made by twisting together strands of purified collagen taken from bovine intestines. the natural plain thread is precision ground in order to achieve a monofilament character and treated with a glycerol containing solution. plain is absorbed by enzymatic degradation.adsorbable biological suture material. chromic is an adsorbable suture made by twisting together strands of purified collagen taken from bovine intestines. due to undergoing a ribbon stage chromicisation (treatment with chromic acid salts), the chromic offers roughly twice the stitch-holding time of plain catgut. chromic is absorbed by enzymatic degradation. note – catgut is no longer used in the uk for human surgery.a synthetic adsorbable suture material. braided synthetic adsorbable multifilament made of polyglycolic acid and coated with n-laurin and l-lysine, which render the thread extremely smooth, soft and knot safe.a synthetic adsorbable suture material. monofilament synthetic absorbable suture, prepared from the polyester, poly (p-dioxanone). compositionnatural purified collagennatural purified collagenpolyglycolic acidpolyester and poly (p-dioxanone) adsorption rate and tensile strengthstrength retention for at least 7 days.maintains strength for 10–14 days84% at 2 weeks, 23% at 4 weeks 80% at 2 weeks, 44% at 8 weeks. complete absorption within 200 days structuremultifilamentmultifilamentbraidedmonofilament originbovine serosa surface finish. made by twisting together strands of purified collagen taken from the small intestine of healthy ruminantsbovine serosa. the natural chromic thread is precision ground in order to achieve a monofilament character and treated with a glycerol containing solutionsyntheticsynthetic treatmenttreated with a glycerol-containing solutiontreatment with a glycerol containing solution and chromic acid saltscoated with magnesium stearateuncoated type of adsorptionproteolytic enzymatic digestion complete by 90 days.proteolytic enzymatic digestion complete in 70 days. adsorption by enzymatic digestion and starts losing tensile strength on implantation from 18–21 days of catgut chromicadsorption by hydrolysis complete between 60 and 90 days. always predictable and reliablewound support can remain up to 42 days, however tensile strength decreases to about 70% at 14 days and 25% at 42 days tissue reactionmoderate. plain catgut enjoys lower tissue reaction as compared to chromicised.moderate. ? ? thread colorstrawbrownviolet and undyedviolet and clear size availableusp 6-0 (1 metric) to usp 5 (100 metric).usp 6-0 (1 metric) to usp 5 (100 metric).usp 6-0 (1 metric) to usp 2 (5 metric)usp 6-0 (1 metric) to usp 2 (5 metric) sterilizationsterilizing fluid containing eo sterilizing fluid containing eo e.o. gas.e.o. gas advantagesvery high knot-pull tensile strength, good knot security due to special excellent handling featuresvery high knot-pull tensile strength, good knot security due to special surface finish, improved smoothness due to the dry presentation of the thread, excellent handling featureshigh initial tensile strength, guaranteed holding power through the critical wound healing period. smooth passage through tissue, easy handling, excellent knotting ability, secure knot tyingtensile strength retention, guaranteed holding power indicationsfor all surgical procedures especially when tissues that regenerate faster are involved. general closure, ophthalmic, orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology and gastro-intestinal tract surgery.for all surgical procedures, especially for tissues that regenerate faster.subcutaneous, intracutaneous closures, abdominal and thoracic surgeriespds is particularly useful where the combination of an adsorbable suture and extended wound support is desirable, pediatric cardiovascular surgery, ophthalmic surgery contraindicationsnot recommended for incisions that require the sustaining of the tissues for a prolonged period of time.not recommended for an incision that requires sustaining of the tissues for a prolonged period of time.this suture being adsorbable should not be used where extended approximation of tissue is required.this type of suture being adsorbable is not to be used where prolonged approximation of tissues under stress is required and/ or in conjunction with prosthetic devices precautionsspecial precautions should be taken in patients with cancer, anemia and malnutrition conditions. they tend to absorb the sutures at a higher rate. cardiovascular surgery, due to the continued heart contractions. it is absorbed much faster when used in the mouth and in the vagina, due to the presence of microorganisms. avoid using where long term tissue approximation is needed. absorption is faster in infected tissuesit is absorbed much faster when used in the mouth and in the vagina, due to the presence of microorganism. cardiovascular surgery, due to the continued heart contractions. special precautions should be taken in patients with cancer, anemia and malnutrition conditions. they tend to absorb this suture at a higher rate.special precautions should be taken in elderly patients and patients with history of anemia and malnutrition conditions. as with any suture material, adequate knot security requires the accepted surgical technique of flat and square ties.the pds suture knots must be properly placed to be secure. conjunctival and vaginal mucosal sutures remaining in place for extended periods may be associated with localized irritation. subcuticular sutures should be placed as deeply as possible in order to minimize the erythema and induration normally associated with adsorption.