Is Catgut Really Obsolete? Experience with Buried Subcuticular Catgut Sutures in Operative Wounds

A good scar after surgery is desirable. Skin closure with subcuticular sutures is known to give better scars. Absorbable sutures reduce suture track infection. Catgut is a monofilament absorbable suture, which has not been generally recommended for skin for fear of infection and dehiscence. Buried subcuticular sutures using catgut were given in 350 cases after surgery. Disorders known to impair wound healing were excluded. Infection and dehiscence was noted in only 4.3% cases. Dehiscence in the absence of wound infection was seen in only two cases (0.6%). Excellent healing with fine linear scars was the result in 92% patients. Catgut can be safely used for skin closure by the described technique of buried subcuticular sutures in clean surgical wounds with gratifying results. It has advantages over its synthetic counterparts of easy availability, economy and good handling. The fear of poor result with catgut as a skin suture is unfounded.