Comparison of the effects of polyglycolic acid and monofilament nylon sutures in the common bile duct of pigs.

: The tissue reaction and involvement of cells in the common bile duct of young pigs after surgery with two suture materials, polyglycolic acid and monofilament nylon, have been described. By comparing the different tissue reactions to the suture materials the authors observe that the use of non-absorbable polymer sutures and their long lasting presence in living tissues, may interfere with the healing process, since the sutures tend to migrate within the common duct wall and be expelled into the lumen owing perhaps to the delayed immuno-allergic reaction which develops in the common duct wall. In contrast polyglycolic acid seems to be biologically well tolerated and well integrated as a suture material, which is reabsorbed with the help of cell enzymes producing a complete restitutio ad integrum of the wall.