When Plain, Chromic and Mild Chromic gut absorbable sutures are placed in tissue, a moderate tissue inflammation occurs characteristic of foreign body response to a substance. This is followed by a gradual loss of tensile strength and suture mass, as the enzymatic process dissolves the surgical gut until it is completely absorbed.

Many variable factors may affect the rate of absorption. Some of the major factors which may affect tensile strength loss and absorption rates are:

• Type of Suture - Plain gut is expected to absorb more rapidly than chromic gut.
• Infection - Surgical gut is absorbed faster in infected tissue than in noninfected tissue.
• Tissue Sites - Surgical gut will absorb more rapidly in tissue where increased levels of enzymes are present, as in secretions exhibited in the stomach, cervix and vagina.