Methods for physical and chemical control of simple catgut samples. Observations on the effect of glioxal

Abstract

A physical method and an enzymatic digestion method were devided for verifying whether the torsion of collagen fibers composing catgut was satisfactory. In fact, improper torsion decreases the resistance to traction and to digestion. The physical method seems to be better than use of the tensiometer and it consists of making surgical knots on a pla te of suft rubber (preferably black and previously treated) which has consistency similar to that of striated muscle. Before undergoing physical examínation, catguts are previously treated in 7% saline solution. This method has been employed for quality control according to the orientation methods required by manufacturers and hospital, and also by the public-health administration. The catgut and its in vitro conducted for controlling the enzymatic digestion reproduces in vivo diges tion, of presence of foreign substances which are not present in the common conservativesbut which may be used for increasing the resistance to traction and digestion.