Suture-
granulomas were previously found in 6% of patients subjected to colorectal surgery. It was therefore investigated whether the use of
polyglycolic acid (
Dexon) instead of
silk for fascial closure of abdominal incisions would reduce the rate of
granulomas without an accompanying increase in rate of
wound dehiscences. The two
sutures were evaluated in a triple blind, randomized trial, using the paired sample principle in patients subjected to elective gastrointestinal surgery. One gram of
Pentrexyl powder was applied to the subfascial space in all the patients and the
wounds were examined 10 days, 1 and 3 months after the operations. The trial was terminated when a closed sequential analysis had shown a significantly higher rate of dehiscences after closure with
silk (12/163) than after closure with
polyglycolic acid (1/163). Seven patients had
granulomas after
silk and one after
polyglycolic acid at that time.
Postoperative wound infections occurred in 7 patients after
silk and 8 after
polyglycolic acid. It is concluced that the use of
polyglycolic acid (
Dexon) nearly eliminates the risk of
suture-
granulomas, without increasing the risk of
wound dehiscences; on the contrary, the rate of dehiscences was lower after
polyglycolic acid.