The effect of Xylocaine spray on suture material degradation

• Published in: International journal of gynecology and obstetrics 2024-07, Vol.166 (1), p.389-396
• Main Authors: Jannati, Pantea, Sørensen, Charlotte Arp, Gommesen, Ditte, Glavind‐Kristensen, Marianne, Seehafer, Peggy, Kindberg, Sara Fevre, Hjorth, Sarah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Anesthetics, Local - pharmacology; ethanol; Ethanol - pharmacology; Humans; Lidocaine - pharmacology; Materials Testing; Polyglactin 910; Sodium Chloride; suture breakage; suture material; Sutures; Tensile Strength
• ISSN: 0020-7292; 1879-3479; 1879-3479
• DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.15377

Objectives To compare the tensile strength of fast absorbable Polyglactin 910 suture material when impregnated with various agents for local anesthesia and to investigate whether the presence of ethanol in Xylocaine spray could explain a potential reduction in tensile strength after use of Xylocaine spray. Methods In all, 120 suture samples of Polyglactin 910 were divided into four groups of 30. These four groups were randomly impregnated with isotonic sodium chloride, isotonic sodium chloride plus Xylocaine spray, isotonic sodium chloride plus Xylocaine gel, or isotonic sodium chloride plus ethanol. After impregnation, the sutures were stored in sealed glass tubes in a heating cabinet at 37°C for 72 h. Thereafter, the tensile strength of these 120 samples was assessed by a universal tensile testing machine. The maximal force needed to break the suture material was recorded in newtons (N). Results Fast absorbable Polyglactin 910 suture material impregnated with Xylocaine spray or ethanol showed weakened tensile strength (mean values 11.40 and 11.86 N, respectively), whereas the specimens impregnated with Xylocaine gel or sodium chloride retained their tensile strength better (mean values 13.81 and 13.28 N, respectively; mean difference between Xylocaine gel and Xylocaine spray −2.41 N, P