Prolene sutures are not a significant factor in anastomotic false aneurysms

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Biomaterials Science

Background:

• Anastomotic false aneurysms are a significant complication in vascular surgery.
• Monofilament sutures, particularly polyethylene, have been implicated in false aneurysm formation.
• Polypropylene sutures are sometimes confused with polyethylene, leading to concerns about their safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of polypropylene sutures in vascular anastomoses.
• To determine the incidence of anastomotic false aneurysms associated with polypropylene suture use.
• To clarify the role of polypropylene versus polyethylene sutures in false aneurysm development.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 2,400 vascular anastomoses utilizing polypropylene sutures.
• Analysis of complication rates, specifically focusing on the occurrence of false aneurysms.
• Case-by-case examination of false aneurysms to identify the causative factors, including suture material failure.

Main Results:

• Ten false aneurysms occurred in 2,400 vascular anastomoses using polypropylene sutures.
• Only one false aneurysm was directly attributed to polypropylene suture failure.
• This single failure involved the anastomosis of two Dacron grafts using 5-0 polypropylene suture.

Conclusions:

• Polypropylene is a satisfactory and safe suture material for vascular anastomoses.
• When handled properly, polypropylene sutures exhibit minimal fragmentation or breakage.
• Polypropylene sutures are not a principal cause of anastomotic false aneurysms in vascular surgery.