A “stitch in time”

While silk sutures are classified as non-absorbable, in reality there should be no evidence of the suture 2 years postoperatively as a result of a foreign body reaction. 2 3 However, the rate of suture degradation in vivo is dependent on a number of features including the site of implantation, the mechanical and enzymatic environment, the silk used and the suture diameter. 2 3 4 5 In this case, with the suture in the biliary system, it was surprising that it was still in existence 30 years postoperatively.