In some cases, for example, during surgery, as well as after childbirth, absorbable sutures are required. For this, a special material is used. There are many types of absorbable threads. The healing time of such wounds depends on many factors. So how long do absorbable sutures take?
Main types of seams
To answer this question, it is necessary to clarify what main types of seams exist. Typically this is:
- Domestic. Similar seams are superimposed on injuries resulting from mechanical stress. Certain types of tissues are used to connect tissues at the rupture site. Such self-absorbable sutures heal quite quickly. Often they are applied to women after childbirth on the cervix. In this case, anesthesia is not required, since this part of the genital organ is devoid of sensitivity.
- Outdoor. They can also be applied using absorbable material. After childbirth, such sutures are made at rupture or during dissection of the perineum, as well as after operations. If aconventional material is used, it must be removed 5-7 days after surgery.
Be aware that self-absorbable sutures may take several weeks to heal. It all depends on the type of material and its composition.
What are absorbable sutures
Self-absorbable sutures are almost always applied. It is extremely rare for wound healing to use surgical material that is resistant to hydrolysis. Absorbable sutures are those that lose their strength as early as 60 days. There is a dissolution of the threads as a result of exposure:
- Enzymes that are present in the tissues of the human body. In other words, these are proteins that control and speed up chemical reactions.
- Water. This chemical reaction is called hydrolysis. In this case, the threads are destroyed under the influence of water, which is present in the human body.
Synthetic braided polyglycolide thread "MedPGA"
Analogues of such surgical material are "Safil", "Polysorb", "Vikril".
Self-absorbable sutures after surgery or after childbirth can be applied using the MedPHA thread. This surgical material is made on the basis of polyhydroxyacetic acid. These threads are coated with an absorbable polymer. This is required to reduce wicking and capillarity, as well as to reduce the sawing effect that occurs when the material is passed through tissues.
How long does it take for the MedPGA thread to dissolve
Self-absorbable sutures applied with MedPHA thread undergo hydrolytic degradation, which is strictly controlled. It should be noted that such material is quite durable. After 18 days, the threads retain up to 50% of their strength properties.
Complete resorption of the surgical material occurs only after 60-90 days. At the same time, the reaction of body tissues to MedPGA threads is insignificant.
It is worth noting that such a surgical material is widely used for suturing all tissues, with the exception of those that are under tension, and also do not heal for a long time. Most often, MedPGA threads are used in thoracic and abdominal surgery, gynecology, urology, plastic surgery and orthopedics. However, it is not used on nervous and cardiovascular tissues.
Synthetic braided polyglycolide thread "MedPGA-R"
Analogues of such surgical material are Safil Quick, Vikril Rapid.
"MedPGA-R" is a synthetic thread made on the basis of polyglyclactin-910. Such surgical material is covered with a special absorbable polymer. This reduces friction as the thread passes through the tissues of the body, and also reduces wicking and capillarity. Thanks to this surgical material, self-absorbable sutures can be applied.
How long does it take for MedPGA-R threads to dissolve
"MedPGA-R" - a material that lends itself to hydrolyticdecay. Such threads are quite strong. After five days, 50% of their strength properties are retained. Complete resorption occurs only for 40-50 days. It should be noted that the reaction of tissues to the MedPGA-R surgical material is insignificant. In addition, the threads do not cause allergies.
This material is used for suturing mucous membranes, skin, soft tissues, as well as in situations where short-term wound support is needed. However, there are exceptions. Such threads are not used on nervous and cardiovascular tissues.
Synthetic braided polyglycolide thread "MedPGA-910"
Analogues of such surgical material are "Safil", "Polysorb", "Vikril".
"MedPGA-910" is an absorbable thread made on the basis of polygliglactin-910. The surgical material is also treated with a special coating, which reduces the "sawing" effect when the material passes through the tissues, as well as to reduce capillarity and wicking.
Resorption time for MedPGA-910
So, when do self-absorbable sutures applied with MedPGA-910 surgical material dissolve? Such threads have a high rate of strength. However, they also undergo hydrolytic degradation. After 18 days, the surgical material can retain up to 75% of its strength properties, after 21 days - up to 50%, after 30 days - up to 25%, and after 70 days, the threads are completely resorbed.
This product is used for suturingsoft tissues that are not under tension, as well as those that heal quickly, in plastic, thoracic and abdominal surgery, gynecology, urology and orthopedics. Do not use "MedPGA-910" when suturing nervous and cardiovascular tissues.
Monofilament "PDO"
There are not so many analogues of such surgical material. This is Biosyn, as well as PDS II. Such threads are characterized by a high rate of biological inertness, are non-wicking and non-capillary, hydrophobic, do not injure tissues when passing through them, are elastic, strong enough, fit well and hold the knot.
How long does it take for monofilaments to dissolve
PDO monofilaments are amenable to hydrolysis. As a result of this process, dihydroxyethoxyacetic acid is formed, which is completely excreted from the body. 2 weeks after suturing, the surgical material retains up to 75% strength. Complete dissolution of the threads occurs within 180-210 days.
As for the scope, the PDO surgical material is used for suturing and connecting soft tissues of any type, including for suturing the cardiovascular tissues of the child's body, which are subject to further growth. However, there are also exceptions. Monofilaments are not suitable for suturing tissues where wound support is required for up to 6 weeks, as well as those that are subjected to heavy loads. Sutures should not be used for implants, artificial heart valves, or synthetic vascular prostheses.
So how many willabsorbable sutures?
Next, we will consider everything regarding what self-absorbable sutures after childbirth are: when they dissolve, whether they require care. Do not forget that many factors affect the timing of wound healing and the complete disappearance of threads. First of all, you need to know what raw materials the surgical material is made of. In most cases, the threads begin to dissolve 7-14 days after suturing. To speed up the process, after the wound has healed, the he alth worker may remove the nodules. To determine the timing of resorption of the threads, you should check with your doctor:
- Which stitches were done.
- What material were the threads made from.
- Approximate timing of suture dissolution.
Finally
Self-absorbable sutures are often used for suturing surgical wounds that are located in deep tissue layers, as well as on the surface of the skin. For example, in organ transplants.
The same surgical material is also used to sew up wounds and tears received during childbirth. In the meantime, a lot of research has been done. Their results showed that polyglycolic acid sutures completely disappeared after only four months, while polyglactin-based sutures disappeared after three. At the same time, self-absorbable sutures will hold the edges of the wound until it is completely healed, and then gradually begin to collapse. If the threads persist for a long time and cause discomfort, thenyou should seek help from a surgeon or your doctor.
