Conization of the cervix uteri. Complications in connection with plain catgut or silk suturing

During a retrospective study on postoperative complications in 213 patients who had undergone conization, a (non-significant) reduction in the bleeding rate from 27.9% to 18.6% was found when using silk sutures (102 patients) instead of plain catgut (111 patients) for adaption of the edges of the wound (0.1 less than p less than 0.2). The reduction was most pronounced and significant in cases where bleeding had occurred during the first 4 days after surgery, the usual period for hospital stay under normal conditions. After discharge the bleeding rates were more comparable, 12.6% in the catgut group and 16.6% in the silk group. On the other hand, more cases of stenosis of the cervical canal were observed, i.e., 25.5% in the silk group and 8.1% in the catgut group (p less than 0.001). The period of hospitalization was reduced on an average by 2 days when using silk (p less than 0.001).