ABSTRACT
9-0 absorbable polydioxanone (PDS) has been compared to 9-0 nonabsorbable Prolene
in order to evaluate any advantages of either suture in microvascular surgery. In
each of 29 rats, one carotid artery was anastomosed end-to-end with PDS and the other
with Prolene. Specimens were harvested 48 hr, 14 days, and three, and five months
postoperatively. Histologic examination of the carotids followed postmortem using
4.5x magnification angiography. Histologic analysis of inflammation, fibrosis, and
medial necrosis of the anastomoses revealed no significant differences between the
two materials. There was no difference as regards stenosis and aneurysm formation,
when evaluated independently by the two methods.
It was observed that saccular aneurysms formed as a result of medial necrosis and
could develop at any time. Fusiform aneurysms formed where the media was replaced
by bulging fibrosis and they appeared late. External support of adherent skeletal
muscle prevented aneurysm formation.
It can be concluded that the amount of inflammation and fibrosis leading to stenosis
is related to the amount of trauma at the time of surgery and not to the type of suturing
material used.
