Hydrosonographic Assessment of the Effect of Two Different Suture Materials on Healing of the Uterine Scar after Cesarean Delivery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare the effects of two different suture materials, monofilament synthetic absorbable sutures versus multifilament synthetic absorbable sutures, on healing the uterine scar after a cesarean delivery.

METHODS

A total of 95 women between the ages of 18 and 40 who had undergone a primary cesarean section (CS) after the 38th week of gestation. In Group I (n=48), continuous double-layer unlocked closure of the low transverse uterine incision was performed using monofilament synthetic absorbable sutures. In Group II (n=47), continuous double-layer unlocked closure of the low transverse uterine incision was performed using multifilament synthetic absorbable sutures. Six months after the operation, the integrity of the cesarean scar at the uterine incision site was assessed using hydrosonography. The healing ratio and the thickness of the residual myometrium covering the defect were calculated as markers of uterine scar healing.

RESULTS

No statistically significant differences were observed between the groups with regard to the preoperative hemoglobin concentrations, the change in the hemoglobin concentrations, operating time, and the number of intraoperative additional hemostatic uterine sutures. Mean thickness of the residual myometrium covering the defect was thicker in the monofilament suture group in comparison to the multifilament suture group (7.76±2.11 vs. 5.96±1.69, respectively; p<0.01). The mean healing ratio was significantly higher in the monofilament suture group in comparison to the multifilament suture group (0.76±0.13 vs. 0.60±0.12, respectively; p<0.01)

CONCLUSION

Continuous double-layer unlocked closure of the uterine incision at cesarean delivery using monofilament synthetic absorbable sutures decreases the risk of CS scar defect.