Aegle Alliance

Suture Material

What is Polyglycolic Acid (PGA)?

DemeTECH's Polyglycolic Acid (PGA) suture is a coated, braided synthetic absorbable suture composed of the homopolymer of glycolic acid, coated with polycaprolactone and calcium stearate. Available in violet and colorless from sizes USP 8/0 to USP 2.

DemeTech's PGA suture is nonantigenic and elicits only mild tissue reactivity during the absorption process. The coating allows for easier passage through tissues with only minimal drag.

PGA Suture is indicated for use in general soft tissue approximation and/or ligation, including use in ophthalmic surgery.

More Details

(C₂H₂O₂)ₙ100% Glycolide Homopolymer

60–90Days — Complete Absorption

USP 8/0–2Available Sizes

Violet / ColorlessAvailable Colours

How It Works

Actions in Tissue

Understanding how Polyglycolic Acid (PGA) behaves once placed in the body

A slight tissue inflammation may occur when PGA Sutures are placed in tissue, characteristic of a foreign body response, followed by gradual encapsulation by connective tissue. After which, absorption by hydrolysis begins — where the polymer degrades to glycolic acid, which is absorbed by the body.

Progressive loss of tensile strength and eventual absorption occurs by hydrolysis. Absorption begins as a loss of tensile strength without appreciable loss of mass, continuing until essentially complete between 60 and 90 days.

Foreign Body Response

A slight tissue inflammation occurs, characteristic of foreign body response, followed by gradual encapsulation of the suture by fibrous connective tissue.

Absorption by Hydrolysis

The polymer degrades to glycolic acid (or glycolic and lactic acids), which are subsequently absorbed and metabolized by the body — a clean, predictable breakdown pathway.

Predictable Strength Loss

PGA retains approximately 84% of original tensile strength at 2 weeks and ~51% at 3 weeks. Absorption is essentially complete between 60 and 90 days post-implantation.

DemeTech's Polyglycolic Acid (PGA) suture is a synthetic, absorbable, sterile, surgical suture composed of 100% glycolide. Available in violet or colorless with chemical formula (C₂H₂O₂)ₙ. Clinical trials show that after two weeks, approximately 84% of initial strength remains; at four weeks, approximately 23% remains. PGA is nonantigenic and elicits only mild tissue reactivity. The coating allows easier passage through tissues, facilitating easy tissue passage, precise knot placement, smooth tie-down, greater tensile strength, and a decreased tendency to irritate tissue.

100% Glycolide Composition

Composed of the homopolymer of glycolic acid (C₂H₂O₂)ₙ, providing consistent, predictable material properties. Coated with polycaprolactone and calcium stearate for smooth tissue passage.

Proven Tensile Strength Profile

Clinical trials confirm ~84% of initial strength at 2 weeks and ~23% at 4 weeks. Absorption is essentially complete between 60 and 90 days — a well-characterised, predictable profile.

Nonantigenic & Mild Reactivity

DemeTech's PGA is nonantigenic and elicits only mild tissue reactivity during the absorption process, supporting a cleaner, lower-reaction healing environment.

Available in Violet & Colorless

Supplied in violet or colorless from sizes USP 8/0 to USP 2, giving surgeons flexibility to select the most appropriate option for each procedure.

Coated for Easy Tissue Passage

Coated to allow easier passage through tissues with only minimal drag, with a decreased tendency to irritate tissue and greater overall tensile strength performance.

Superior Knot Performance

Enables precise knot placement and smooth tie-down, giving surgeons confident, secure closures that hold reliably through the critical wound-healing period.

Usage

Indications

Do not resterilize. Discard open unused sutures. Store at room temperature. Avoid prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures.
As with any foreign body, prolonged contact with salt solutions such as those found in the urinary or biliary tracts may result in calculus formation.
Users should be familiar with surgical procedures and techniques involving absorbable sutures before employing PGA for wound closure, as risk of wound dehiscence may vary with the site of application and the suture material used.
Acceptable surgical practice should be followed with respect to drainage and closure of contaminated or infected wounds.
The use of this suture may be inappropriate in elderly, malnourished, or debilitated patients, or in patients suffering from conditions which may delay wound healing.
As this is an absorbable suture material, the use of supplemental non-absorbable sutures should be considered in the closure of sites which may undergo expansion, stretching, or distention, or which may require additional support.
Do not reuse. The reuse of single-use devices can cause cross contamination and affect the device safety, performance, and effectiveness, exposing patients and staff to unnecessary risk.

Safety

Precautions

When handling PGA Sutures, handle the suture and needle with care, paying particular attention to the needle and avoiding damage caused by needle holders. The user should have sufficient knowledge of absorbable sutures and their decreasing tensile strength before handling.
Under some circumstances, notably orthopedic procedures, immobilization by external support may be employed at the discretion of the surgeon.
Skin sutures which must remain in place longer than 7 days may cause localized irritation and should be snipped off or removed as indicated.
Care should be taken to avoid damage from handling. Avoid crushing or crimping damage due to application of surgical instruments such as forceps or needle holders.
Adequate knot security requires the accepted surgical technique of flat, square ties, with additional throws as warranted by surgical circumstance. Additional throws may be particularly appropriate when knotting monofilaments.
PGA is not suitable for elderly or debilitated patients or patients with retarded wound healing. Tissue with poor blood circulation may reject the suture material due to delayed absorption.
Adverse effects may include wound dehiscence, wound infection, minimal acute inflammatory tissue reaction, localized irritation when skin sutures are left in place for greater than 7 days, calculi formation in urinary and biliary tracts, and transitory local irritation.

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