Suture Flashcards
What types of suture are absorbable?
Chromic gut
polyglactin 910
PGA
Glycomer 631
Caprolactone
Poliglecaprone 25
PDS( prolonged absorbable)
What types of suture are non-absorbable?
Nylon
Silk
Polypropylene
Polymerized caprolactam
stainless steel wire
Is chromic gut absorbable?
Yep
- B/d by phagocytosis
- rapidly removed in infected wounds
Is chromic gut multifilament?
Yep
What is chromic gut made out of?
Sheep gut….Gross
True/False
Knot security decreases when chromic gut is wet?
TRUE!!!
What are the current uses for chromic gut?
Trick question!
Not really used in practice
True/False
Polyglactin 910 is absorbable and monofilament
False!
Polyglactin 910 is absorbable and Multifilament.
How is polyglactin 910 broken down?
HYDROLYSIS
stable in contaminated wounds
rapidly degraded in infected urine
What are the uses of polyglactin 910?
Dental sx

True/False
Polyglactin 910 is synthetic.
TRUE!
copolymer of lactide and glycolide with polyglactin 370
coated with calcium stearate.
If they ask this then I’m going to kill all their families
What are the uses for PGA?
Dental sx
What is the difference in Polyglactin 910 and PGA?
PGA
- synthetic, but from glycolic acid
- coated or uncoated
Polyglactin 910
- copolymer of lactide and glycolide with polyglactin 370
coated with calcium stearate.
How is PGA bd?
HYDROLYSIS
stable in contaminated wounds
rapidly degraded in infected urine
T/F
Glycomer 631 is absorbable and monofilament.
TRUE!
What are the uses of glycomer 631?
TONS!
- enterotomies
- cystotomies
- body wall closure
- fascia closure
T/F
Caprolactone is non-absorbable and monofilment suture.
False
Caprolactone is absorbable and monofilment suture.
What are the uses for Caprolactone?
Closure of cystotomies
- Must be non-infected
SQ closure
T/F
Poliglecaprone 25 is also called monocryl
True
T/F
Monocryl is absorbable and monofilament
True
What are the uses of monocryl?
It’s the same as caprolactone
Closure of cystotomies
Must be non-infected
SQ closure
Which suture is prolonged absorbable?
Polidioxanone (PDS)
T/F
PDS is absorbable and monofilament
True
What are the uses of PDS?
TONS!
- enterotomies
- cystotomies
- body wall closure
- fascia closure
What absorbable suture is synthetic?
PDS
Monocryl
caprolactone
glycomer 631
PGA
Polyglactin 910
Which suture can be used for enterotomies, cystotomies, body wall closure, and fascia closure?
Glycomer 631
PDS
T/F
Silk is absorbable.
NO
Silk is non-absorbable.
What suture is multifilament braided?
Absorbable
- Polyglactin 910
- PGA
Non-absorbable
- Silk
T/F
Silk is mulifilament and reduces the number of bacteria required to start an infection.
Yeppers!
What are the uses for silk?
Cardiovascular sx

T/F
Nylon is susceptible to degradation.
True
hydration may lead to disruption of H bonds–>loss of tensile strength
What are the uses for nylon?
Skin closure
Orthopedic repairs
- Lateral tibiofabellar suture
What are the uses of polypropylene?
Tendon
ligament
fascial
joint capsule closure
T/F
Polypropylene is very resistent to degeneration
True
they don’t have any hydrolyzable bonds
T/F
Polymerized caprilactam is non-absorbable and multifilament
True
What are the uses of polymerized caprolactam?
STAY STUTURES ONLY
D/t sinus formation in tissues
What are the types of stainless steel suture?
Nonabsorbable
- 314 L alloy
- 316 L alloy
Monofilament or twisted
What are the uses of stainless steel suture?
orthopedic applications
closure of sternotomy
What are the 6 characteristics of suture
size
fleibility
surface characterisitcs and coating
capillarity
tensile strength
knot security
T/F
Smaller suture has less tensile strength
True
What is flexibility of suture dependent on?
Type of suture
size
T/F
When ligating vessels a more flexible suture is better.
True
What type of suture has more drag through tissue?
Braided has more drag than monfilament
So therefore, smooth suture is less traumatic to tissue
What type of suture is less traumatic to tissue, but has less knot security?
Smooth suture
T/F
Coating braided suture decreases the drag.
True
Can be coated with teflon, silicone, wax, paraffin-wax, Ca stearate
What is capillarity?
Process by which fluid and bacteria are wicked along multifilament fibers
Allows infection to persist in the suture
T/F
ALL braided suture have capillarity.
TRUE!
Do not use multifilament sutures in contaminated or infected tissue!
What is tensile strength?
The measurement of tissue of fibers ability to resist deformation or breakage.
How strong should the sutures be?
As strong as the tissue where they are being place.
What are the 2 twisted sutures?
Chromic gut
Polymerized caprolactam
How should the size of surgical needles be selected?
based on the tissue being sutured
depth of the wound
What is the most common needle shape?
1/2 circle
What is a 1/4 circle used for?
opthalmic procedures
What is 5/8 circle used for
confined locatios or deep tissues
What is 3/8 circle used for?
superficial tissue
T/F
Taperpoint needle shape pierces, spreads, and cuts tissue.
False
Taperpoint needle shape pierces, spreads, and does NOT cut tissue.
Where should a taperpoint needle be used?
intestine
SQ tissue
fascia
What is the shape of a cutting needle?
Cutting edge on the concave portion of the needle.
What tissues should a tapercut needle be used in?
Heavy, thick fascia
Tendon
Vascular grafts
Where should a reverse cutting needle be used?
Skin
What shape is a spatula point needle?
Flat on the bottom and top
What procedures should a spatula point needle be used in?
Ophthalmic
What type of tissue should a blunt point need be used in?
Soft parenchymal organs
Ex: Liver and kidneys