SUTURES AND LIGATURES 2
WHAT ARE ABSORBABLE SUTURE?
Catgut (Plain):- The origin of the fiber, is from the intestine of animals, and after processing 98% of the extracted material is collagen, and is absorbed when left in body tissues.
Each of the strands, is then graded and separated into six metric
sizes:
from the thinnest to the thickest, 2(4/0), 3(3/0),
3.5(2/0), 4(0), 5(1), and 6(2). (The sizes refer to metric
gauge, the sizes in brackets are the USP equivalents).
The metric size approximates the diameter of the strand in
millimeters X 10.
USES
The finished catgut is cut into lengths of about 70 cm.(30 in) or
1.52 m(5 ft) to form ligatures or `needled' sutures.
The attachment of non-traumatic suture needles is a machine
procedure.
There are two basic methods of needle attachment Fig.
A hole may be drilled into the blunt end of the needle shaft, or the needle can be flanged at this end to form a grove.
Machines are used to close the prepared needle tightly around the suture material, which is the "pull tested" to ensure that it is firmly attached to the needle.
This material is then sterilized and package in a fluid in small easy to handle packages.
Catgut passes through tissues smoothly and easily.
- It swells and loses its strength at the end of one week there
is loss of 70% of its strength
- It disintegrates by proteolysis and is rapidly absorbed.
- There is an inflammatory response to its presence in the body
tissues.
It is used as ligature for small vessels and also as a suture
for a subcutaneous stitch under the skin.
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