Composition and Characteristics

• Material: DemeTech's Polyglycolic Acid suture is a synthetic, absorbable, sterile surgical suture, made entirely of glycolide.
• Chemical Formula: The molecular structure of DemeTech's PGA is represented by (C2H2O2)n.
• Available Colors: The sutures come in two shades: violet and colorless.

Performance and Tensile Strength

• Two Weeks Post-implantation: Clinical trials indicate that after a fortnight, DemeTech's PGA retains about 84% of its original tensile strength.
• Four Weeks Post-implantation: A month after implantation, the suture retains approximately 23% of its linear tensile strength.

Reactivity and Antigenicity

• DemeTech’s Polyglycolic Acid Suture is nonantigenic. This means it doesn't stimulate an immune response when introduced into the body.
• The suture induces only a mild tissue reaction during the absorption process, making it suitable for patients with sensitivities.

Composition Insights

• PGA Composition: Polyglycolic Acid, commonly known as PGA, consists of polymers derived from glycolide acids.

Coating and Its Benefits

• Coated for Performance: DemeTech’s PGA sutures are coated, ensuring a smoother passage through tissues. This minimizes drag, which can cause tissue damage or discomfort.
• Benefits of Coated PGA Sutures Include:
• Easy Tissue Passage: The coating ensures that the suture glides through tissue without causing unnecessary trauma.
• Precise Knot Placement: Surgeons can place knots with precision, ensuring secure wound closure.
• Smooth Tie Down: The suture ties down smoothly, ensuring that knots are flat and don’t protrude, which can be uncomfortable for patients.
• Enhanced Tensile Strength: The coating provides an additional layer of protection, enhancing the suture's tensile strength.
• Minimal Tissue Irritation: The coating ensures that the suture doesn’t aggravate or irritate the surrounding tissue.

Conclusion

DemeTech's PGA sutures provide surgeons with a reliable and efficient option for wound closure. Their unique composition, combined with the benefits of their coating, ensures that they offer superior performance while minimizing patient discomfort and potential complications.

When PGA Sutures are introduced into tissue, a mild tissue inflammation can be observed, typical of a foreign body reaction. This is subsequently succeeded by a gradual encapsulation by connective tissue.

Intended Use

The PGA Suture is designed for general soft tissue approximation and/or ligation, including ophthalmic procedures. It should not be resterilized and unused sutures from open packages should be discarded. These sutures should be stored at room temperature and not exposed to high temperatures for extended periods. Prolonged contact with salt solutions can lead to calculus formation. Familiarity with absorbable sutures is crucial before their application, and standard surgical practices should be followed. This suture might not be suitable for elderly or debilitated patients, or those with conditions impeding wound healing. Considering its absorbable nature, supplemental nonabsorbable sutures might be required in certain situations. Reusing is strongly discouraged due to potential risks.

Precautions

When using PGA Sutures, careful handling of the suture and needle is vital to prevent damage. Users should be well-informed about the diminishing tensile strength of absorbable Surgical Sutures. In certain cases, like orthopedic procedures, external support might be necessary. Skin sutures that remain for more than 7 days can cause irritation. Proper knotting techniques are necessary for securing the suture. The suture might not be suitable for elderly patients or those with delayed wound healing.

Adverse Reactions

Possible adverse reactions include wound dehiscence, inadequate wound support in specific patients or situations, wound infections, inflammation, irritation if skin sutures are kept for over 7 days, calculus formation in prolonged contact with salt solutions, and temporary localized irritation.

Polyglycolic, PGA

This material undergoes absorption by hydrolysis, degrading to glycolic acid, which the body then absorbs. PGA triggers a minimal acute inflammatory response in tissues, which is followed by the suture's encapsulation by fibrous connective tissue. The suture's strength decreases over time due to hydrolysis, with complete absorption occurring between 60 and 90 days after implantation.