Prolene sutures are not a significant factor in anastomotic false aneurysms

Anastomotic false aneurysms have been a significant complication in vascular surgery, and the sutures used have been a major cause. Monofilament sutures have been indicated as contributing to the formation of false aneurysm. However, most of the monofilament sutures operative in the formation of false aneurysms have been made of polyethylene. Polypropylene, although significantly different from polyethylene, has been associated and possibly confused with it. Very few anastomotic aneurysms have resulted from breakage of polypropylene sutures. In this series of 2,400 vascular anastomoses in which polypropylene sutures were used, there were 10 false aneurysms; however, only one resulted from suture failure. In that patient, two Dacron grafts were anastomosed with 5-0 polypropylene suture. Polypropylene is a satisfactory and safe suture material for vascular anastomoses. It does not fragment or break easily when properly handled, and therefore is not a principal cause of false aneurysms.