Suture Materials

Question 1

What is thicker? 1 or 5?

Answer 1

5

Question 1

What is thicker 1/0 or 5/0?

Answer 1

1/0

Question 2

Which suture has increased tensile strength? 3/0 or 6/0?

Answer 2

3/0
Thicker sutures have more tensile strength

Question 3

For mass closure would you choose higher tensile strength or lower?

Answer 3

Higher

Question 4

What is suitable for subcuticular closure? 3/0 or 6/0 PDS?

Answer 4

3/0 PDS

Question 5

What is silk and how long does it last?

Answer 5

Braided biological
Theoretically permanent

Question 6

What is silk used for?

Answer 6

Tying drains

Question 7

What is Polydiaxanone (PDS) and how long does it last?

Answer 7

Synthetic monofilament
Up to 3 months (longer with thicker sutures)

Question 8

What is PDS used for?

Answer 8

Widespread surgical applications including visceral anastomoses, dermal closure, mass closure of abdominal wall

Question 9

What is Polyglycolic acid also known as?

Answer 9

Vicryl
Dexon

Question 10

What is Polyglycolic acid and how long does it last?

Answer 10

Synthetic braided
Up to 6 weeks

Question 11

What is Polyglycolic acid used for?

Answer 11

Most tissues can be apposed using polyglycolic acid

Question 12

What is Polypropylene (Prolene) and how long does it last?

Answer 12

Synthetic monofilament
Permanent

Question 13

What is prolene used for?

Answer 13

Widely used, agent of choice for vascular anastomoses

Question 14

What is Polyester (Ethibond) and how long does it last?

Answer 14

Synthetic braided
Permanent

Question 15

What is Polyester (Ethibond) used for?

Answer 15

Its combination of permanency and braiding makes it useful for laparoscopic surgery

Question 16

Why can braided sutures not be used in vascular surgery?

Answer 16

Prothombotic