Chapter 31 - postoperative Management book notes Flashcards
The wound and surrounding skin should be ____ immediately after closure.
immediately - because this region might be too painful for cleaning when patient is fully awake
What is a sterile wound cover?
a cover that protects a wound from coming into direct contact with the environment postoperative
The surgical assistant can assist in the postoperative care of a surgical patient by?
cleaning the wound, placing a bandage, submitting a biopsy sample or writing the surgical report
What is suturing?
the act of joining two surfaces together with a stitch or a series of stitches.
What is the goal of a suture?
is to hold the wound edges in apposition to one another until the tissue has sufficient time to heal.
Tissues that heal quickly, such as those of the stomach, intestine, and bladder are often closed with?
absorbable sutures
______ sutures may be prudent in tissues that heal more slowly, such as fasciae and tendons.
nonabsorbable
Sutures can be ______ (composed of a single strand or ______ (several filaments twisted or braided together)
monofilament
multifilament
What are some characteristics of monofilament sutures?
- considered easier to pass through tissue because they cause less resistance, but attention is needed during knot tying because they are slippery and can untie
What are some characteristics of multifilament sutures?
- have greater capillary action, making them more susceptible to bacterial colonization
Sutures are constructed in?
monofilament or multifilament forms
______ sutures are less resistant to contamination in infected wounds.
Multifilament
Most sutures are referred to in terms of?
their USP size (mm diameter size)
What is a surgical report?
an account of all procedures performed during surgery and includes any implants or sutures that were used.
When choosing suture material, what must be considered?
- If infection is a possibility, choosing a suture that can withstand infection.
- the type of organ being sutured
- if the area needing to be sutured is a hollow organ - pick sutures that can withstand degradation by intraluminal substances
- tissues that heal quickly (i.e., stomach) use absorbable sutures
- tissues that heal slowly (i.e., tendons) use nonabsorbable suture
Sutures are available in what sizes?
from 11-0 (thinnest) to the largest of 7 (thickest)
When using sutures, the greater the number of zeros the ______ is the suture.
thinner
Which suture is larger, a size 2 or a size 3?
a size 3
Which suture is larger, a size 2-0 or a 3-0?
a size 2-0
The strength of a suture is measured by the ____ required to break a knotted suture strand.
force
The suture that is selected to close a wound should be at least as strong as the ____ that it is holding together.
tissue
Suture handling is related to memory, what does this mean?
the capacity of a suture returning to a previously determined shape after undergoing deformation
Why is having a “lower memory” (or no memory) is considered a beneficial trait, why?
because these sutures are much easier to handle, and the quality of the knots is improved