What is a 3-0 catgut in a medical operation?

Catgut is a type of cord that is prepared from the natural fiber in the walls of animal intestines.

For a long time, catgut was the most common material for the strings of harps, lutes, violins, and violas, as well as other stringed Musical Instruments. Catgut is still used as a high-performance string in tennis or squash racquets.

Catgut suture was once a widely used material in surgical settings. The suture holds the wound together in good apposition until such time as the natural healing process is sufficiently well established to make the support from the suture material unnecessary and redundant.

The available suture sizes and diameters are:

• 6-0 = 0.07 mm
• 5-0 = 0.10 mm
• 4-0 = 0.15 mm
• 3-0 = 0.20 mm
• 2-0 = 0.30 mm
• 0 = 0.35 mm
• 1 = 0.40 mm
• 2 = 0.5 mm