[Choice of suture material for surgery on the biliary system]

To study the most biologically inert sutural material under the conditions of choleintestinal anastomoses, 3 series of dog experiments were performed. Terminolateral choledochoduodenoanastomoses were established in all the animals. To establish the first layers of sutures in the first series (25), use was made of catgut, in the second series (25) of silk, and in the third one (25) of capron. To establish buried sutures, use was made of silk 3. Macro- and microscopic studies of anastomoses were made 3, 7, 15, 30, 90, 180 and 360 days after operation. Histological and histochemical studies of the sections of the anastomosis demonstrated that the morphological appearance around sutural material in question was strikingly different. The capron thread appeared the most inert under contact of alimentary juices with a highly irritant action. It is advisable that such a thread should be widely used in surgery on the biliary ducts.