Which synthetic absorbable suture has the longest half-life (about 4 weeks) and is used for bowel and urinary tract closures?

• A. Polyglycolic acid (Dexon)
• B. Polydioxanone (PDS)
• C. Polyglactin (Vicryl)
• D. Polyglecapone (Monocryl)

Answer: (B)

The main idea is how long the suture continues to provide strength before it is absorbed. For closures of the bowel and urinary tract, you want a suture that offers prolonged support because healing is slower and leakage risk is higher if the knot integrity fails early. Polydioxanone provides that longest duration of tensile strength among the common synthetic absorbables, maintaining meaningful strength for several weeks and being absorbed over a longer period overall. This makes it ideal for viscera closures where you need durable support as tissue heals. The other options—polyglycolic acid and polyglactin—tend to lose strength more quickly and are absorbed sooner, and polyglecapone is even faster to absorb, better suited for tissues that heal rapidly or for superficial closures.