Suture Material and Needles Flashcards
Suture material that doesn’t need to be removed and is digested and assimilated by the body during normal healing
Made from animal or synthetic sources
Absorbable
Absorbable suture material that is produced from submucosal layers of sheep/hog intestines and is elastic and easy to handle
Plain and chromic
Surgical gut
What type of surgical gut absorbs within 3-5 days?
Plain
What type of surgical gut absorbs in 10-15 days and treated with acid salts to prolong absorption?
Chromic
Absorbable suture that is synthetic and made of hydroxyacetic acid and causes less rxn than gut
Lasts 14-21 days
Ex: Dexon, Kendall
Polyglycolic Acid
Degrades rapidly in an alkaline environment, dissolves faster in infected urine
Dexon and Vicryl
Absorbable suture that is made from lactic and glycolic acid that lasts about 14-21 days
Ex: Vicryl, Ethicon
Polyglactin 910
Absorbable suture made from glycoside/lactide copolymers and are multifilaments
Potential for bacterial wicking from braiding characteristics
Lasts 14-42 days, gone by 70
Ex: Kendall
Polysorb
Absorbable suture material made from newer synthetic polyester materials that has less tissue drags during placement and possesses memory
Better for slow healing wounds and lasts about 180 days
Used for dog spays
Ex: PDS, Ethicon
Polydioxanone/Polyglyconate
Absorbable suture material that is a monofilament and used where healing occurs more quickly
Used more commonly in replace of gut and lasts 7-14 days (gone by 90-120 days)
Used for cat spays
Ex: Monocryl, Ethicon, Biosyn, Kendall
Poliglecaprone and Glycomer 631
Least expensive absorbable material
Gut
What suture material can NOT be autoclaved?
Monocryl
Suture material that is not absorbed or digested by body tissue and remains in tissue until removed
Nonabsorbable
If nonabsorbable suture is left in tissue, it could become
encysted
When should nonabsorbable sutures be removed?
7-14 days post op
Pocket of serum from infx
seroma
Type of nonabsorbable suture that is commonly used with cardiovascular sx in humans and can induce tissue rxn in animals
Serves as a point of origin for infx
Silk
Type of nonabsorbable suture material that is made of natural fibers that increases in strength when wet
Limited use in vet med
Cotton and Linen
Type of nonabsorbable suture material that is synthetic polymerized plastic that doesn’t cause tissue rxn and can last for several years (stiff and slippery)
Has significant memory
Ex: Nylon, Ethicon
Polyamide
Type of nonabsorbable suture material of synthetic plastic similar to nylon
Doesn’t weaken over time and excellent for permanent suture support
Ex: Prolene, Ethicon, Surgipro, Ethicon, Flucrofil II
Polypropylene
Type of nonabsorbable suture material that is synthetic and more elastic (can stretch and return to original length without breaking)
Useful for repairing ligaments and structures under motion
Ex: Novafil, Kendall
Polybutester
Type of nonabsorbable suture material that is synthetic multifilament and requires 5-6 throws for knot security
Significant tissue drag and tissue rxn, can cause chronic infx and draining fistula
Ex: Mersiline, Tevdek, Polydek, Ethicon, Ti-cron, Kendall
Polyester Fibers
Type of nonabsorbable suture material made from synthetic fibers coated with plastic-like material
High tensile strength, minimal tissue rxn, and the outer sheath of suture can often break
Never be used below skin level (causes fistula and infections)
Polymerized Caprolactum
Nonabsorbable suture material made of stainless steel and useful for infx wounds or tissues that will be stressed in a slow healing process and pts that are active or have Hx of chewing out sutures
Can cause scarring and damage tissue
Can be autoclaved and is twisted instead of tied
Wire
Suture material that is >0
Coarse
Suture material that is <0
Fine
Type of needle that is frequently used (reusable) and can be used with any suture type
Comes in curved, straight, and any type of point
Cons: Suture is threaded through the eye, creates bulk and possible tissue damage
Eyed Needles
Type of needle that will not unthread itself and carries less bulk through the hole (atraumatic)
Readily available, always sharp, and comes with suture material attached
Cons: More expensive and can’t be reused
Swaged/Swedged
Faster and easier to use than hand suturing
Stapling
Named by an abbreviation and their function
Number used after the name to indicate length of the row
Staples
Type of staple that has a squeeze trigger and holds 25-35 staples
Single row of staples that is used for skin and fascia closure
Reusable
Surgical Skin Stapler
Type of stapler that is one time use (comes prepackaged) and used for GI resection
4 rows of staggered staples and cuts between the middle 2 rows
Gastrointestinal Stapler (GIA)
Type of stapler used the same way as GIA but used in lung resection
Double or triple row
Thoracoabdominal stapler (TA)
Type of stapler used for blood vessel ligation and places 2 staples on a vessel and cuts between them
Ligate-and-Divide Stapler (LDS)
Needle body configuration driven through by hand and looks like a regular sewing needle
Straight
Straight needles are AKA
Keith Straight
Special needle with an eye in the point and requires special braided tubular suture
Used for retaining a prolapsed vagina in large animals
Buhner Needle
Needle that’s a double curve design that goes through without pivoting wrist
Holds heavy thread and used exclusively in large animal
S Curve
Needle that uses needle holders to drive through the tissue and comes in many curvatures (hundreds of types)
Curved
Most commonly used curved needle for general sx
3/8 and 1/2 circle
Curved needle for ophthalmic sx
1/4 circle
Needle point that is round all the way to the tip with gradual taper so it’s atraumatic to tissues because it pushes apart tissue instead of cutting
Uses: soft tissue, internal tissue, and SQ
Non-Cutting/Tapered
Needle point in which the needle dissects through friable tissue without cutting and generally recommended for suturing
Liver and Kidneys
Blunt-point
Needle point (Triangle shape) that produces a cut out effect and shouldn't be used when an airtight or watertight suture line is required Used for skin or tougher tissue
Cutting
Needle point (upside down triangle) that is less of a cut out effect and doesn't bend or break as easily as regular cutting needle Most preferred and same uses as regular cutting
Reverse Cutting (K needle)
The number of throws placed for suturing
2-4
Suture classification that directly opposes each other
Simple
Suture classification that is designed to withstand added tension
Mattress
Turns tissue outward, away from pt and toward the surgeon
Everting
Turns the tissue toward the pt/ toward the lumen of hollow, viscous organ
Inverting
Designed to bring tissues in direction apposition
Apposing
Suture pattern used in skin, SQ, fascia, blood vessels, and GI
Less strength than simple interrupted and has excessive tension that causes puckering and strangulation of tissue
Simple continuous
Suture pattern used in skin, SQ, fascia, blood vessels, nerves, GI
Provides secure closure and excessive tension that can cause inversion
Simple Interrupted
Suture pattern used in skin and fascia and stronger closure than simple interrupted
Resists tension and prevents eversion
Faster to apply
Interrupted cruciate
Suture pattern used in skin and diaphragm (large animals)
Similar to continuous but provides security if broken
Ford Interlocking
Suture pattern used in skin, fascia, muscle, and tendon
Commonly used to suture skin of cattle following rumenectomy
Potential for strangulation
Horizontal Mattress
Suture pattern used for the inversion of visceral stumps or securing “-ostomy” tubes
Stump is held inverted as suture is tightened
Purse string
Suture pattern used for manipulation or retraction of tissue
2 or more are placed
Stray sutures
Suture pattern where suture material is passed through the stump to be ligated around half of the stump then around the entire stump
Prevents suture from slipping off the stump and prevent hemorrhage
Transfixation ligature
Suture pattern used commonly for closing gut
Needle and suture penetrate serosa and muscularis but not mucosa
Lembert
