BEHAVIOR OF DIFFERENT SUTURE MATERIALS IN THE URINARY-BLADDER OF THE RABBIT WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO WOUND-HEALING, EPITHELIALIZATION AND CRYSTALLIZATION

Five urinary bladder incisions were performed in 16 rabbits and the de fects closed by plain catgut 4-0, chromic catgut 4-0, polypropylene 4- 0, polyglactin 910 4-0 and polyglactin 910 8-0 in the form of an all-l ayer suture, thereby obtaining a total of 80 suture sites. The running sutures in 8 animals were reviewed by light microscopy after 1, 2, 7 and 15 weeks, and in 8 additional animals after 3 days, 1, 2, 7 and 15 weeks by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, we analyzed and comp ared the autopsy findings on gross inspection, the urinary sediments a nd urinary cultures of the individual animals. Scanning electron-micro scopic evaluations showed that epithelization of the intraluminal sutu re portions can be accomplished after 3 days already. Reduced suture s trength and rapid absorption of the suture material prevent later post operative incrustations. Light-microscopic inspection of the segments of the bladder wall bearing this suture material suggests that a minor inflammatory tissue response around the suture material - with polygl actin 910 8-0 in particular - is more likely to enhance regeneration o f the tunica muscularis and to prevent formation of cysts than seen wi th a long-standing highly inflammatory tissue response around the sutu re site of catgut threads. In the animal experiment, the polyglactin 9 10 suture has shown sufficient firmness and proved to be superior to a ny other suture material as regards the reaction to foreign bodies and inclination to incrustation. A thinner thread used for sutures in the efferent urinary tract would thus have to be given preference over ot hers. Plain catgut, chromic catgut and polyglactin 910 sutures, 4-0 in strength, were found to be disadvantageous in the animal model. The n onabsorbable propylene thread turned out to be inadequate in urinary b ladder surgery.