What is the most important consideration when selecting nonabsorbable poly sutures?

As with all types of nonabsorbable sutures one of the most important considerations is the specific suture location and the tension or pressure that may be applied to the suture location during the healing, recovery, rehabilitation and recovery process. Unlike absorbable sutures that will gradually lose their tensile strength and lower there ability to support the wound, poly sutures will remain consistently in place and providing support. In fact studies show that this constant strength retention shows no significant change in wound support indefinitely with in vivo use. The good news is that poly sutures, for all their strength and support, are still suitable for soft tissue ligation and approximation as well. They have good flow through the skin which makes them an excellent choice for delicate plastic surgery demands as well for repair of very challenging parts of the body such as the aorta or in other types of cardiovascular surgery.

What are the specific differences between polyester sutures and polypropylene monofilament sutures?

Polypropylene sutures are a monofilament of polyolefin, which is a synthetic linear. Polypropylene is considered to be a thermoplastic polymer and is very resilient to all types of chemical reactions including reactions with acids and bases that may lead to the degrading of other types of materials. It is considered to be naturally very flexible and, with modern production technology it is absolutely uniform in diameter along the entire suture. The chemical properties and structure of monofilament poly sutures make them incredibly resistant to fraying, an important consideration in suture and wound closure.

Polyester sutures are braided, which means they have added features that are important in specific types of procedures. Like polypropylene the material is very strong and is designed to withstand the pressure of movement around the suture area. It is also nonabsorbable and provides indefinite tensile strength in vivo. The braided structure of this poly suture also provides additional optimal knot security which is essential in wound ligation and approximation. Often polyester sutures are the go to option for attaching prosthetic implants.

What added features to poly sutures offer in general and what is the best packaging option for general use surgical or emergency rooms?

Poly sutures all come with distinctive options in coloring. They can be a bright blue, green or alternate color to stand out for easy poly suture removal. There is typically also the option for more neutral color such as clear or white for stitches that are not going to be removed but rather will remain within the body. Packaging options for the poly sutures are typically of all suture types. There are needled, pre cut and sterile packages of suture available. These are sold by the box, perfect for fast access in emergency rooms or for having just the suture needed for surgical procedures. There is also the option to purchase ligating reels of suture that allows the surgeon or physician to customize the length and diameter of the suture based on the specific procedure requirements.