What is catgut suture used for?

Catgut suture has high knot-pull tensile strength and good knot security due to special excellent handling features. It is used for all surgical procedures including general closure, ophthalmic, orthopedics, obstetrics/gynecology and gastrointestinal surgery.

What type of suture is catgut?

Catgut is extracted from the intestines of sheep or goats. There are two types used for sutures: plain and chromic. Both are monofilament type. Chromic is treated with chrome salts (brown color) which slows the absorption process in the body and minimizes the tissue reaction in surrounding tissues.

What is chromic catgut used for?

A glycerin-coated chromic catgut (Softgut®) is used to eliminate the need for alcohol in packaging and to improve handling qualities. The glycerin-treated sutures have a smoother and more uniform surface appearance than untreated catgut, and, as a result of glycerin treatment, the sutures are thicker.

Can catgut used for skin suture?

Catgut can be safely used for skin closure by the described technique of buried subcuticular sutures in clean surgical wounds with gratifying results. It has advantages over its synthetic counterparts of easy availability, economy and good handling.

How many types of catgut are there?

What is the difference between catgut and Vicryl?

Chromic catgut suture material is treated in order to slow down the digestive process and decrease the inflammatory reaction. Polyglycolic acid (Dexon) and polyglactin (Vicryl) are synthetic materials and they are both reported to cause less tissue reaction because they are absorbed by hydrolysis.

Is catgut made from cats?

Catgut makers usually use sheep or goat intestines, but occasionally use the intestines of cattle, hogs, horses, mules, or donkeys. Despite the name, catgut manufacturers do not use cat intestines.

How are sutures sized?

Suture sizes are defined by the United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.). Sutures were originally manufactured ranging in size from #1 to #6, with #1 being the smallest. A #4 suture would be roughly the diameter of a tennis racquet string.

What suture is used for skin?

Percutaneous closure — The simple interrupted suture is the most common method used to close most small, uncomplicated, traumatic skin lacerations [1,14,15]. For proper healing, the edges of the wound must be everted by each stitch.