In 114 and 108 patients who were operated upon the biliary tract with a subcostal incision and closed in one layer with Polydioyanone (PDS) and Polyglyconate (Maxon), the authors analysed the frequency of the complications in the healing of the operative wound. A superficial infection in the wound appeared in 1% and 0.9% of the patients in the PDS and Maxon group, while a deep infection of the wound appeared in 0.8% and 0% (P less than 0.05). In "contaminated" wound patients, the frequency of the deep infection of the wound was not significantly larger than the "clean" operations (P less than 0.05). The total frequency of the deep infection of the wound in 222 patients was 0.4%. There was no dehiscence of the wound abscesses or ligature fistulas. 4 months following surgery 92% and 90% of the patients from the PDS and Maxon group were checked; an incisional hernia was preceded by an infection of the surgical wound in both the PDS (0.9) and Maxon (1%) group. Risk-factors (older patients, sex, overweight and icterus) did not have any effect on the healing of the wounds. In 66% of the patients of the PDS and 62% of the Maxon group, the gallbladder bed was not drained. The difference in the development of complications in the healing of the surgical wound between the two drained groups was not statistically significant (P less than 0.5). With a one layer closure of the subcostal incision with PDS or Maxon, complications in the healing of the wound were significantly reduced. The purpose of our study was: a clinical evaluation and comparison of the two monofilament absorptive suture materials-Polydioxanone (PDS) and Polyglyconate (Maxon) during a one layer closure of surgical interventions on the biliary tract, and evaluation of certain risk-factors in the healing of the surgical wounds.