USE OF A NEW POLYBUTILATE-COATED POLYESTER SUTURE IN CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY

Polybutilate coated polyester (Dacron) sutures were evaluated in a variety of cardiovascular procedures performed on 117 patients. The age range was from 6 months to 88 years, and long-term follow-up was available in 100 patients. The most frequently sutured tissues were those of the aorta, atrium, fascia and pericardium. Suture sizes ranged from 1-0 through 5-0, the most common being 3-0. There were no suture related complications, and the performance was found to be superior to non-coated polyester sutures and other forms of coated sutures. Favorable characteristics were: 1) ease of passage through tissue, especially through prosthetic materials; 2) ease of tying, 3) increased knot security; and 4) better handling characteristics in general. Because of the firm bonding of polybutilate with the polyester suture, flaking (minute amounts of the coating which become dislodged) and suture drag characteristics of other coated polyester sutures were not experienced.