Dexon

Dexon (Covidien TM) is a brand of absorbable, braided multifilament and monofilament synthetic sutures. The knot security is considered good to moderate (usually 5 knots are sufficient). The suture is made of polyglycolic acid (PGA, a homopolymer of glycolic acid).

Its tensile strengths at 2 and 3 weeks are, respectively, 65% and 35%. It is completely absorbed in 60 to 90 days. The colored version of Dexon is green, while its uncolored counterpart is beige. Monofilament sutures are available in sizes 8-0 to 10-0 (USP), while braided sutures are available in sizes 2 to 7-0.

It is useful for soft tissue approximation (including anastomosis, subcutaneous, and intracutaneous), ligation, and eye surgery. It is not suitable for use in cardiovascular or neural tissue. The polyglycolic acid suture is encapsulated by fibrous connective tissue and causes minimal inflammatory responses in tissues. Dexon slowly loses its tensile strength through hydrolysis and is completely absorbed. The hydrolysis of the polyglycolic acid polymer results in the release of glycolic acid monomers, which are metabolized and absorbed by the body.

Polyglycolic acid (PGA) has been known since 1954. PGA initially had no practical applications due to its sensitivity to hydrolysis in comparison to other synthetic polymers. In 1962, however, this polymer was marketed under the brand name Dexon as the first absorbable synthetic suture. Polysorb (™) is a well-known alternative.

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