Modern medicine is constantly updated with all sorts of novelties. The catgut thread is one of them, with its help you can make a self-absorbable suture, which does not need to be monitored and go to the hospital for dressings and removal. It is safe and practical. With its help, internal seams are made, which dissolve on their own after a while. This is very convenient, since you do not need to stay in the hospital for a long time under the supervision of doctors.
Catgut
Catgut is translated as "intestine of cattle". What is catgut? This is a self-absorbable suture material that is used in surgical practice. For its manufacture, purified connective tissue is used. Most often, tissue from the serous layer of the intestines of cattle or the submucosal part of the intestines of sheep is used. Another material is used in musical craft, namely as strings for instruments.
How they are made
As already mentioned, for its manufacture, the muscular layer of the intestine or the submucosal part of the intestine of sheep and cows is used. To produce such a thread, you need to perform more than 10 operations, this is a rather complicated process. Raw materials for production come in dry or wet-s alty form. First, it is treated with a special solution of potash, after which it is mechanically affected by scrapers and cut into strips. Then there is a bleaching process in a solution of sodium and perhydrol, after which it is twisted into threads. Then they are fumigated with sulfuric gas and rinsed in acetic acid, but not concentrated. After all this, it is dried, polished and calibrated depending on the thickness. At the last stages, processes such as degreasing with gasoline, sterilization with chemical-type reagents take place, and at the very end they are twisted into coils and packaged.
Variety
There are several varieties of catgut. Since it is a surgical thread, it must be used in different operating situations, so it cannot be the same for all operations and situations. Catgut is distinguished:
- simple;
- chrome plated.
The simple version is an ordinary surgical suture. It is not further processed, which, in turn, does not prolong the resorption period.
Ordinary catgut - what is it? It looks like an elastic thread, has a smooth surface in color from creamto light brown. Used in the gastrointestinal mucosa, urology, gynecology, muscles, fascia, fiber, abdominal cavity, parenchymal organs, bronchi, lungs, traumatology. Catgut resolves over a period of 7 to 12 days. During this time, its strength is reduced to 50%. Excreted from the body within 70 days by enzymatic action. The thread is sterilized by the radiation method.
Chrome catgut - what is it? As the name implies, the thread is treated with chromium s alts in order to increase the resorption period. Chromium s alts form additional molecular bonds that are arranged transversely. Outwardly, this is the same elastic thread, which has a smooth surface of light green or green color. It is used in the same cases where ordinary catgut is used, but in cases where the recovery period will be longer. The time during which the thread loses 50% of its strength is 18-28 days. It leaves the body in 90 days by enzymatic means, and is sterilized by the radiation method.
Features of catgut
Surgical thread from catgut is the most reactogenic. Experimental studies have shown that when a clean wound is sutured with such a thread, only 100 staphylococcus microbes are enough to develop suppuration. In some cases, the timing of resorption may vary, so it is impossible to say exactly how quickly the thread will resolve. In some cases, with surgery on the stomach and the use of catgut during the recovery period, it can resolve in the first few days. After 10 days, the thread may already lose up to half its strength. Also, under equal conditions, the strength of a synthetic thread is greater than that of catgut, this requires the use of threads of a wider diameter. One of the features of the thread is that it has absorptive capacity. The use of catgut is not recommended for allergy sufferers, as it is highly allergenic.
Suture
A thread is considered a surgical suture material, it connects tissues, forming a scar or epithelialization.
The material was first used thousands of years ago. It was discussed in a treatise on Chinese medicine. But in those days, horse hair, cotton, tree fibers and animal tendons were used, you see, a list of not very pleasant materials. And about catgut, and what it is, no one knew.
Today, silk threads are considered the best option in surgery. All thanks to its properties, it is soft, plastic, durable, and it can be knitted in two knots. Due to the fact that silk is a natural material, its properties can be compared with catgut, but the inflammatory reaction of the silk thread is less pronounced. The thread also causes inflammation, in severe cases, necrosis may develop. To cause suppuration, it took only 10 microbial bodies, such was the conclusion of the experiment. In short, silk and suture catgut are similar to each other and have the same properties, but there are differences: silk is softer, but suppuration develops faster, and catgut is not so soft and durable, but with its use the risk of suppuration is reduced by 10 times.
