1-28-2016 Reading Material Flashcards
What determines the type of tissue in which a needle should be used?
the point
What is best used in tissue where a sealed suture line is needed?
a taper point needle with a round body
What type of needle is used with tough fiberous tissue and some cardiovascular procedures?
a taper-cut needle
Which type of needle is the most traumatic to tissue?
a cutting edge needle
What three body types may a needle be?
straight, circular, or curved
What is one application of the straight needle in veterinary medicine?
purse string suture in anus
What three subtypes of curved needles are available?
full curve, half curve or double curve
What use are double curved needles usually reserved for?
lare animal surgery especially bovine surgical closures
Why are half curved needles classified as such?
only half the needle body is curved
Why are full curved needles classified as such?
the entire body of the needle is curved
What are four common circular needle shapes?
1/4 circle, 5/8 circle, 1/2 circle, 3/8 circle
What is the most common method of suture attachment to the needle?
swaged or eyeless needle
What is the purpose of suture material?
to hold together wound edges until the wound can withstand the stress of healing without additional support
What are eight characteristics of suture material?
tensile strength, memory, flexibility, absorbability, capillarity, structure, knot security, and color
Define tensile strength.
the amount of force in PSI that the suture can withstand as an untied fiber before it breaks
Define flexibility.
the ease with which the suture is manipulated either by the surgeon or in the tissue
What is the difference between absorbable and nonabsorbable suture?
nonabsorbable suture material is not broken down by the body and can remain intact for at least two years; absorbable suture material is broken down by the body over a period of 60 days - 2 years
Define capillarity.
the ability of a suture material to allow microbes to wick to the interior of the suture strand
What are the two basic structure types of suture?
monofilament and multifilament
Define knot security.
the ability of suture to hold the knots that the surgeon has placed
Define natural suture material.
suture made from fibers found in nature
Name three natural suture materials.
cotton, silk, catgut
Define synthetic suture material.
suture made from manufactured materials
Name two synthetic suture materials.
nylon, polyglactin 910
What criteria should be considered when selecting suture type and size?
patient size, tissue of placement, strength required, healing potential of tissue, importance of cosmetic appearance, and cost
How is suture size classified?
the term “ought” represented by the numeral 0
What is the rule for suture sizing classification?
the more zeroes in a size the smaller the suture, the larger whole number the larger the suture
What packaging options are available for suture material?
single use sterile packets and cassettes
When are external staples a good choice?
when a wound needs to be closed quickly or a patient has a history of chewing a surgical site or tissue reaction to suture material

needle body

needle point

swaged end

French eye

closed eye

blunt point

regular cutting

reverse cutting

reverse cutting

spatula point

taper cut

taper point