Sutures are medical devices that are used to repair cuts in the skin tissue. They hold the tissues together when there is a breakage in skin integrity after an injury or surgery. They are usually thread-like. They are of different shapes, sizes and are used according to the type of cuts. They are applied by attaching the suture material to the needle. Sutures are classified into various types. They can be Monofilament or braided. They can be natural and synthetic. They can be absorbable and non-absorbable. Absorbable sutures are the ones that are not removed by the doctor. They are digested by the enzymes present in our body. There are many types of absorbable sutures such as Gut, Poliglecaprone, Polydioxanone, and polyglactin i.e. polyglycolic acid suture absorbable. Non-absorbable sutures are removed by the doctor after some time.
Polyglycolic Acid Sutures are synthetic absorbable braided sutures. They are formed of 100% glycolide. The synthetic coating consists of polycaprolactone and calcium stearate. They have greater tensile strength over the other absorbable sutures. They get absorbed in 2-3 months. They do not elicit an immune response in the body so they are non-antigenic. They do not cause fever in the body so they are non-pyrogenic. As these sutures are braided, so they provide firm knotting. They are easily degraded by hydrolysis and are digested by the enzymes present in our body.
Advantages of PGA Sutures:
•High tensile strength: Polyglycolic acid sutures have higher tensile strength than catgut sutures. They are preferred over other sutures for orthopaedic surgeries.
•Smooth: These sutures are smooth so they can be easily absorbed into the skin.
•Secure: Polyglycolic acid sutures have a braided structure. They get easily knotted and provide more security. The braids are tight so that they increase strength and provide a smooth appearance.
Applications of Polyglycolic Acid Sutures:
•Opthalmic surgery
•General surgery
•Plastic surgery
•Obstetrics
•Episiotomy
•Urology
•Orthopedics
•Pediatrics
•Ligatures
•Gastrointestinal Surgery
Contraindications: Polyglycolic acid sutures should not be used in cardiovascular or neurological procedures. It cannot be used to support the tissue for an extended period as it is synthetic. PGA sutures also lose their strength if bile or saline is present. These sutures should not be applied in patients who have allergies to Polyglycolic acid, calcium stearate, and glycolide.
Packaging: Firstly, they are packed into a primary medical-grade paper folder. Then they are packed in aluminium foils that can be torn open or peel off. After this, they are packed into a secondary medical grade paper folder which is laminated from outside by polyester. They are further packed into small cartons. To protect from dirt, these boxes are further covered with a tamper-proof film. Finally, they are packed into big cartons.
Disposal: Polyglycolic acid sutures should be disposed of according to the biomedical waste management rules. They should be discarded in proper colour coded containers. The unused and expired sutures should be discarded in the incinerators where they are treated at high temperatures and converted into ashes.
Polyglycolic acid sutures are manufactured by various companies in our country. After manufacturing the product, they are packed and exported to other countries through polyglycolic acid sutures exporters. PGA sutures are widely used in surgeries all over the world.