The Effect of a Hydrogen Peroxide

8/3/2019 The Effect of a Hydrogen Peroxide

1/10

Raghu S. Athre, MD; Jesung Park, PhD; Joseph L. Leach, MD

Department ofOtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas,

Southwesternn Medical

Center, Dallas (Drs Athre and Leach); and Department of Biomedical

Engineering,University of Texas

JULY/AUG 2007

The Effect of a Hydrogen Peroxide

Wound Care Regimen on

Tensile Strength of Suture


2/10

y Objective:

To compare the tensile strength of nylon, polypropylene, and

fast-absorbing gut sutures treated with either 3% hydrogen

peroxide or water for a period of 5 days to emulate a woundcare regimen.


3/10

Methods:

y Fifteen samples of 5-0 fast-absorbing gut, 5-0 nylon,and 5-0

polypropylene sutures (Prolene)

yAll suture packages were opened on day 0..


4/10

y Five samples of,each type of suture were randomized to the

control group, 5 to the water group, and 5 to the peroxide

group.

y

Control suture was not manipulated in any wayy Suture samples randomized to the water and peroxide groups

were dipped in the appropriate solutions twice a day for 5

minutes each time for a total of 5 days to simulate a wound

care regimen.


5/10

y The peroxide and water solutions consisted of over-the-

counter 3% hydrogen peroxide and distilled water,

respectively.

y

At the end of 5 days, all suture samples were subjected totensile strength testing using a bench-top In-Spec 2200

(Instron Corporation, Norwood, Massachusetts) portable

bench-top tester.


6/10

y Results:

Analysis of the data showed a statistically significant

decrease in tensile strength of fast-absorbing gut

sutures treated with hydrogen peroxide compared withfast-absorbing gut

suture control samples and fastabsorbing gut sutures treated with only

water.


7/10

On preliminary visual examination, nylon and polypropylene

sutures did not appear to be affected by either water or

hydrogen peroxide. Both groups of suture samples retained

their shape, color, and general feel when handled. The fast-

absorbing gut suture, however, was different. The fast-

absorbing gut suture subjected to water did not appear to be

affected compared with control suture. The fast-absorbing

gut suture subjected to hydrogen peroxide the hydrogen

peroxidetreated suture had completely degraded,the onlything left behind was the needle

Results are shown in table :


8/10


9/10

Conclusion

y the evidence from this study shows that hydrogen peroxide

significantly decreases the tensile strength of fast-absorbing

gut suture hydrogen peroxide should be avoided as asuperficial wound care regimen when fast-absorbing gut

suture is used for wound closure

y Hydrogen peroxide does not affect the tensile strength of

polypropylene or nylon suture.


10/10

Thank You

Documents

The Effect of a Hydrogen Peroxide