Perioperative care: suture materials: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Perioperative care: suture materials

Sample item

Which suture material is degraded by hydrolysis rather than by enzymatic proteolysis?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

A. Polyglactin 910

Synthetic absorbable sutures such as polyglactin 910 and polydioxanone break down by hydrolysis, which provokes less tissue reaction. Catgut is a natural material digested by proteolytic enzymes. Silk is classed as non-absorbable and polypropylene is non-absorbable and inert.

Option by option

  • A. Polyglactin 910 (correct)

    Correct. Polyglactin is a synthetic suture absorbed by hydrolysis.

  • B. Silk

    Silk is classified as non-absorbable and is a braided natural fibre.

  • C. Chromic catgut

    Chromic catgut is made of collagen and is digested by enzymes.

  • D. Polypropylene

    Polypropylene is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament and is not absorbed.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is A, Polyglactin 910. Synthetic absorbable sutures such as polyglactin 910 and polydioxanone break down by hydrolysis, which provokes less tissue reaction.

Why is "Silk" not the answer?

Silk is classified as non-absorbable and is a braided natural fibre.

Why is "Chromic catgut" not the answer?

Chromic catgut is made of collagen and is digested by enzymes.

Why is "Polypropylene" not the answer?

Polypropylene is a non-absorbable synthetic monofilament and is not absorbed.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Perioperative care: suture materials in General Surgery. Catgut is a natural material digested by proteolytic enzymes. Silk is classed as non-absorbable and polypropylene is non-absorbable and inert.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Perioperative care: suture materials?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.