Surgical Gut Plain suture is an absorbable sterile surgical suture composed of purified connective tissue (mostly collagen) derived from the serosal layer of beef (bovine) intestines.

The chromic gut contains a chromic salt solution to delay absorption. Surgical gut suture meets all requirements established by the United States Pharmacopeia (U.S.P.) for absorbable surgical sutures.

Surgical gut (Plain and Chromic) is indicated for use in general, soft tissue approximation and/or ligation, including use in ophthalmic procedures.

When Surgical Gut Suture is placed in tissue, a moderate tissue inflammation occurs characteristic of foreign body response to a substance. This is followed by a loss of tensile strength and suture mass, as the proteolytic enzymatic digestive process dissolves the surgical gut. 

This process continues until the suture is completely absorbed. 

Many variable factors may affect the rate of absorption. Some of the major factors which can affect tensile strength loss and absorption rates are:         

1. PLAIN gut generally absorbs more rapidly than CHROMIC gut. Plain gut is 100 percent absorbed in 30 to 60 days.   

2. Infection – Surgical gut is absorbed more rapidly in infected tissue than in non-infected tissue.    

3. Tissue Sites -- Surgical gut will absorb more rapidly in tissue where increased levels of proteolytic enzymes are present, as in the secretions exhibited in stomach, cervix and vagina.

DemeTech’s Plain Catgut suture is an absorbable, sterile, surgical suture composed of highly purifiedconnective tissue (mostly collagen) derived from either beef or sheep intestines.    

DemeTech’s Plain Catgut Sutures are available in Beige. Due to an extremely short absorption period, DemeTech’s Plain Catgut elicits only minimal reaction in tissues.

The percentage of collagen in the catgut suture often determines the quality of the suture. 

Higher percentages of collagen allow for: superior tensile strength, longer absorption times, and lower reactions in vivo.    

- DemeTech manufactures its Chromic Catgut sutures with the highest quality collagen, maintaining a composition of 97%  - 98% of pure collagen.    

- DemeTech’s Plain Catgut is rapidly absorbedz.    

- Tensile Strength is maintained for about 10 days.   

 - Absorption is complete within 70 days.    

- DemeTech’s Plain Catgut is ideal for tissues which heal rapidly and require minimal support.

Do not resterilize. discard open unused sutures.  Store at cool room temerature.  Avoid prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures.

As with any foreign body, prolonged contact of this or any other suture with salt solutions, such as those found in the urinary or biliary tracts, may result in calculus formation.

Users should be familiar with surgical procedures and techniques involving absorbable sutures before using surgical gut suture for wound closure as risk of wound dehiscence may vary with the site of application and the suture material used. Acceptable surgical practice should be followed with respect to drainage and closure of contaminated or infected wounds.

The use of this suture may be inappropriate in patients suffering from conditions, which may delay wound healing. As this is an absorbable suture material, the use of supplemental non-absorbable sutures should be considered by the surgeon in the closure of sites undergoing expansion, stretching, or distension, or which may require additional support.

Precautions

Under some circumstances, notably orthopedic procedures, immobilization by external support may be employed at the discretion of the surgeon. Skin sutures, which must remain in place longer than seven (7) days may cause localized irritation and should be snipped off or remove as indicated.

In handling this or any other suture material, care should be taken to avoid damage from handling. Avoid crushing or crimping damage due to application of surgical instruments, such as forceps or needle holders.    Adequate knot security requires the accepted surgical techniques of flat, square ties, with additional throws as warranted by surgical circumstance and the experience of the surgeon.    Certain patients may be hypersensitive to collagen or chromium and might exhibit an immunological reaction resulting in inflammation, tissue granulation or fibrosis, wound suppuration and bleeding, as well as sinus inflammation.

Adverse effects associated with the use of this device include wound dehiscence, failure to provide wound support in closure of the abdomen, chest, joints, and other sites where expansion, stretching or distension occur, failure to provide adequate support in elderly, malnourished or debilitated patients, or in patients suffering from cancer, anemia, obesity, diabetes, infection or other conditions which may delay wound healing, enhanced bacterial infectivity, minimal acute inflammatory tissue reaction, localized irritation when skin sutures are left in place for greater than seven (7) days, calculi formation in urinary and biliary tracts when prolonged contact with salt solutions, such as urine and bile occurs, and pain, edema, and erythema at the wound site.