FiG. 4.

Patient timelines, from the time of open RYGB surgery to time of writing. Time “0” represents the RYGB surgery at which polyester sutures were placed. The initial solid line represents an initial disease-free condition. The appearance of an open gray bar signifies the presentation of the SSI. The length of the gray bar is the length of persisting SSI. The asterisk (*) indicates the panniculectomy and abdominal wall exploration surgery at which suture material was removed. The solid lines thereafter represent a disease-free condition again. In two patients, (as discussed in Results) two surgical interventions were undertaken, hence the appearance of two gray bars. All patients, after complete removal of suture material, have remained free of SSI.