Use of absorbable and non-absorbable suture materials for closure of abdominal incision in dogs

The experiments were conducted on 12 healthy mongrel dogs to determine suitable suture material and suturing technique for closure of abdominal incisions. The abdominal incisions were closed with through and through and layered methods using two absorbable suture materials i.e. polyglactin 910 and chromic catgut and two non-absorbable suture materials i.e. nylon and polypropylene in dogs. The mean number of stitches and duration required for layered method were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) than those for through and through method. However, when abdominal wound was closed with layered method, it took less time to heal as compared to through and through method. The degree of inflammation and tearing of tissues were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) with through and through method as compared to layered method irrespective of suture material used tissues and degree of inflammation were significantly higher (P less than 0.01) on 3rd; 4th, 5th and 6th day than on 7th, 14th, 40th and 90th day. Tearing of tissues and degree of inflammation started on 2nd day and 3rd day respectively and used in layered method was lost as observed on necropsy, whereas three stitches of nylon and two stitches of polypropylene were lost when used in through and through method. Polyglactin 910 used in through and through method or layered method was apparently visible from skin side but buried into muscle tissues from peritoneal side. Precise apposition of the edges without excessive stress was observed with polyglactin 910 and chromic catgut used in layered method. Layered method permitted healing by first intention. Polyglactin 910 and chromic catgut used in through and through method caused tension and cicatrization of tissues. Healing was delayed in through and through method as compared to layered method due to tearing of tissues and development of gap between wound edges. Adhesion between incision site and falci form ligament were served with both techniques and all suture materials. Gross examination after cross section of tissues revealed that polypropylene, nylon and polyglactin 910 when used in through and through method teared the peritoneum and muscle tissues and sutures were buried in muscle tissues. Chromic catgut used in through and through or layered methods dried and sloughed from shin side. However, chromic catgut was apparently visible from peritoneal side. The stitches were little bit buried in muscle tissues. On 40th and 90th day, polypropylene, nylon and polyglactin 910 used in through and through method were more dragged into muscle tissues. The teared gap had completely healed and suture materials were encapsulated. Nylon, polypropylene and polyglactin 910 used in layered method were apparently visible from peritoneum as from Skin. Chromic catgut used in through and through or layered methods had dried and sloughed from skin side. However, partially digested chromic catgut on 40th day and partially digested polyglactin 910 on 90th day was totally buried in muscle tissues and this was evident on cross section of tissues. Abdominal wounds lead completely healed when closed either with layered method or with through and through method. The presence of suture materials increased the tissue reaction and caused fibrosis. Gross examination of cross sections of tissues revealed that polypropylene, nylon and polyglactin 910 were encapsulated in muscle tissues. Adhesions were minimum with chromic catgut used in both techniques as compared with other suture materials.