catgut

An absorbable surgical suture material made from the collagenous fibers of the submucosa of certain animals (usally from sheep or cows); misnamed c.. [probably from kit, a small violin, through confusion with kit, a small cat]

- chromic c. c. impregnated with chromium salts to prolong its tensile strength and retard its absorption.

- silverized c. c. prepared by immersion in a 2% solution of colloidal silver for 1 week and then in 95% alcohol for 15 to 30 minutes.

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cat·gut -.gət n a tough cord made usu. from sheep intestines and used esp. for sutures in closing wounds

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n.

a natural fibrous material prepared from the tissues of animals, usually from the walls of sheep intestines, twisted into strands of different thicknesses and formerly widely used to sew up wounds (see suture) and tie off blood vessels during surgery. The catgut gradually dissolves and is absorbed by the tissues, so that the stitches do not have to be removed later. This also minimizes the possibility of long-term irritation at the site of operation. Some catgut is treated with chromic acid for different periods during manufacture (chromic catgut). This gives catguts that last for longer lengths of time before absorption is complete.

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cat·gut (katґgut) surgical gut.