Suturing

Question 1

What is the purpose of suture?

Answer 1

Hold together wound edges until the wound has healed sufficiently to withstand stress
- OR -
Permanently ligate vessel or replace tendon function

Question 2

Five ideals for suture material

Answer 2

1. Holds knots well and easy to use
2. Causes min inflamm response
3. Doesn’t allow microorganism growth or lith formation
4. Maintains tensile strength for needed time period
5. Inexpensive

Question 3

The three ways of classifying suture material:
1.
2.
3.

Answer 3

1. Origin:
   - Natural
   - Synthetic
   - Metallic
2. Absorbability
   - Absorbable or not
3. Structure:
   - Monofilament
   - Braided or twisted

Question 4

Suture origins
1. Natural (3)
2. Synthetic (5)
3. Metallic (1)

Answer 4

1. Silk, linen, catgut
2. Polypropylene, polyester, polyamide, nylon, polyglactin 910
3. Stainless steel

Question 5

With natural structure suture material it is good to know the biological ____ and if it will cause intense ____ reaction.

Answer 5

1. Biological origin
2. Intense inflammatory response

Question 6

Synthetic sutures do not typically cause ____ reactions

Answer 6

Inflammatory

Question 7

1. Examples of absorbable suture material (3)
2. Used for (3)

Answer 7

1. Examples:
   - Catgut
   - Polydioxanone
   - Polyglycolic acid
2. Use:
   - Deep tissue
   - Membranes
   - SQ skin closure

Question 8

1. Examples of non- absorbable suture material (3)
2. Used for (2)

Answer 8

1. Examples:
   - Polyester
   - Nylon
   - Stainless steel
2. Use:
   - Skin (removed)
   - Deep structures (tendons, vessels, nerve repairs - not removed)

Question 9

Name the two ways absorbable suture is degraded

Answer 9

1. Inflammatory reaction utilizing tissue enzymes
2. Hydrolysis

Question 10

T/F: Monofilament suture appears as a single strand with all fibers running parallel.

Answer 10

True

Question 11

T/F: Multifilament fibers are twisted or braided together

Answer 11

True

Question 12

Monofilament suture cause ____ tissue trauma. It resists the harboring of ____ and ties ____. Although, it can require more ____ than multifilament.

Answer 12

1. Less/minimal trauma
2. Microorganisms
3. Ties smoothly
4. More knots

Question 13

Multifilament suture have greater ____ in the tissue. It is ____ to handle and ease of ____. It will require ____ ____ than monofilament.

Answer 13

1. Resistance
2. Easier
3. Tying
4. Less/fewer knots

Question 14

Common suture material or interrupted & exposed skin sutures are ___ & ___

Answer 14

Nylon and polyprolene

Question 15

Sutures that are buried or run in the skin may use ___ or ___ materials

Answer 15

Absorbable or non-

Question 16

T/F: More 0’s in a suture size, the larger it is

Answer 16

False! More 0’s imply the size is smaller

Question 17

Which is smaller:
2-0 or 5-0

Answer 17

5-0

Question 18

Needles are classified according to their ____ and type of ____

Answer 18

Shape and type of point

Question 19

T/F: Straight needles are often hand held and used to secure percutaneously placed devices

Answer 19

True

Question 20

Taper point needle has a ___ body. It is used to suture soft ___, excluding the skin.

Answer 20

1. Round body
2. Soft tissues