Catgut Suture: Types, Properties, and Applications in Surgical Procedures

Classify suture material. Add a small note on catgut.

Answer.

Classifiation of Suture Material

Classification I

Catgut Suture Types, Properties, And Applications In Surgical Procedures

“Understanding The Properties Of Catgut Sutures”

“Types Of Catgut Sutures Used In Surgery”

Classification II
- Natural:
  - Catgut
  - Silk
  - Cottn
  - Linen.
- Synthetic:
  - Vicryl, dexon, PDS, maxon
  - Polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, polyamide.
Classifiation III
- Braided: Polyester, polyamide, vicryl, dexon, silk
- Twisted: Cottn, linen.
Classifiation IV
- Monofiament: Polypropylene, polyethylene, PDS, catgut,steel
- Multifilament: Polyester, polyamide, vicryl, dexon, silk,cotton.
Classification V
- Coated
- Uncoated.

“Properties Of Catgut Sutures”

Catgut

Catgut was the fist absorbable suture material available.
Original word was kitgut, i.e. Kit means fidle and present form arise thorough confusion with kit. = cat.
Another explanation of origin of cat in catgut is it is an abbreviation of catte which originally denoted not only the cows but all types of livestock.
Catgut is derived from natural source which is purifid collagen tissue derived from serous layer of cow’s intestine or submucous firous layer of sheep intestine.
Catgut is pseudo filamentous in nature, i.e. microscopically it is made up of multiple filaments which are processed in such a way that they are twisted in ground together and polished to produce the appearance of monofilament suture material.
As it is composed of collagen fiers, chances of degradation are present, i.e. the material should be kept moist.
Commercial supply of this material is as the package soaked in isopropyl alcohol which act as a preservative.
Resorption of catgut is via enzymatic digestion through proteolytic enzymes and phagocytosis.
When catgut is placed inside the tissues, it looses its tensile strength under 10 to 15 days, this is resorbed under 2 to 3 months.

“Best Practices For Applying Catgut Sutures”

Types Of Catgut

It is of three types, i.e.

Plane Gut

At the time of suturing, it should be dry or else it become stif and diffilt to handle.
It breaks easily as it consists of weak areas along its length due to manufacturing process.
It is easily degraded by enzymatic action and inflmmatory reaction is present during this procedure.
Bacterial adhesion is more as compared to nylon and polypropylene.
Tensile strength of this material is poor. Tensile strength lost in 7 to 10 days
This is used to suture subcutaneous tissue, muscle and suturing circumcision in children.

“Risk Factors For Complications With Catgut Sutures”

Chromic Gut

It is the plain surgical gut which is tanned with the chromic salts.
This is done to decrease reactivity of tissue and increase in tensile strength.
Chromic gut has bettr knot security as compared to plane gut.
Coating by chromic salts increases its resistance to resorption. As plain gut looses its strength by 10 to 15 days,chromic gut takes the double of this time, i.e. 3 to 4 weeks.
Resorption gets completed after 90 days.
Chromic gut produces tissue reaction which is less as compared to plain gut.
It is used for suturing muscle. Fascia, ligating pedicles, etc.

“The Role Of Catgut Sutures In Wound Healing”

Fast Absorbing Gut

When plain surgical gut is treated by heat to allow rapid resorption it is known as fast absorbing gut.
This is designed for use on skin.
Its tensile strength lost from 5 to 7 days and get resorbed by 2 to 4 weeks.

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