DemeTech's Plain Catgut is an absorbable, sterile surgical suture derived from highly purified connective tissue, predominantly collagen, obtained from either beef or sheep intestines.

Key Characteristics:

• Color: The sutures are available in Beige.
• Tissue Reaction: Due to its notably short absorption period, it induces a minimal tissue reaction.
• Quality Indicator: The quality of the suture is primarily determined by its collagen percentage. A higher collagen content provides:
  • Enhanced tensile strength.
  • Extended absorption duration.
  • Diminished in vivo reactions.
• Composition: DemeTech produces its Chromic Catgut sutures with top-tier collagen, ensuring a composition comprising 97% to 98% pure collagen.
• Absorption: DemeTech’s Plain Catgut is known for its rapid absorption.
  • Tensile strength is sustained for approximately 10 days.
  • Complete absorption occurs within 70 days.
• Ideal Use: This suture is best suited for tissues that heal quickly and need only limited support.

When Surgical Gut Suture is implanted in tissue, it incites a moderate tissue inflammatory response, typical of the body's reaction to a foreign substance. As the suture undergoes proteolytic enzymatic digestion, there's a subsequent loss in its tensile strength and mass until it's entirely absorbed.

The rate of suture absorption can be influenced by various factors. Some of the primary determinants affecting the rate of tensile strength loss and absorption include:

1. Type of Gut: PLAIN gut is generally absorbed faster than CHROMIC gut. Specifically, Plain gut undergoes 100% absorption in a span of 30 to 60 days.
2. Infection: If the tissue is infected, surgical gut will be absorbed at a faster rate compared to non-infected tissue.
3. Tissue Sites: Areas with higher concentrations of proteolytic enzymes, such as the stomach, cervix, and vagina, will see a quicker absorption of the surgical gut due to the enzymes' digestive properties.

Indications:

• Storage & Sterilization: Sutures should be stored at a cool room temperature. Do not re-sterilize and discard any open, unused sutures. Avoid long exposure to high temperatures.
• Contact with Saline Solutions: Prolonged contact of the suture, like any foreign body, with salt solutions (e.g., in the urinary or biliary tracts) might lead to calculus formation.
• User Familiarity: Before using surgical gut suture for wound closure, practitioners should be acquainted with surgical techniques related to absorbable sutures. There are varying risks of wound dehiscence based on the application site and suture material. It's essential to adhere to accepted surgical practices, especially when dealing with contaminated or infected wounds.
• Patient Conditions: The suture might not be suitable for patients with conditions that could delay wound healing. Given its absorbable nature, surgeons should consider using non-absorbable sutures for areas prone to stretching or needing extra support.

Precautions:

• Orthopedic Procedures: In certain scenarios, such as orthopedic surgeries, immobilization through external support might be necessary.
• Skin Sutures: Sutures remaining in the skin for over seven days can cause localized irritation and should be removed or trimmed as needed.
• Handling: When managing this or any suture, avoid causing damage. Refrain from crushing or crimping due to the use of surgical tools, like forceps or needle holders. Ensure knot security by employing standard surgical techniques, with extra throws if the situation demands.
• Patient Sensitivities: Some individuals might be hypersensitive to collagen or chromium. This could cause reactions like inflammation, tissue granulation, wound suppuration, bleeding, or sinus inflammation.

Adverse Effects:

The potential negative effects of using this suture include:

• Wound dehiscence.
• Inadequate wound support in specific areas or in certain patients like the elderly, malnourished, or those with particular conditions (cancer, anemia, obesity, etc.).
• Enhanced bacterial infectivity.
• Minimal acute inflammatory tissue reaction.
• Localized irritation for sutures left in place beyond seven days.
• Calculus formation in urinary and biliary tracts upon prolonged contact with salt solutions.
• Symptoms like pain, swelling, and redness at the wound site.