Clinical evaluation of dacron suture material.

Abstract

Dacron is a polymer of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. A number of experimental studies have demonstrated that it has good qualities for suture material and synthetic grafts.1-5It has greater tensile strength than silk or cotton, does not lose strength upon sterilization, and causes minimal tissue reaction. This report concerns its use as suture material in 747 operative cases. The sutures employed were closely braided, dyed with D and C green No. 6, and sterilized by electron sterilization.* There was no conscious case selection. The clinical material constitutes consecutive cases treated in the general surgical and cardiovascular sections and a substantial number in the thoracic section. There were 162 cardiac operations. Approximately half were open procedures employing total cardiopulmonary bypass. The remainder were closed procedures, such as mitral valvulotomies, division and suture of patent ductus arteriosus, repair of coarctation of the aorta, pulmonary valvulotomies, banding of the pulmonary