Suture materials Flashcards
What are the properties of ideal suture? (13)
- maintain tensile strength
- nonelectrolytic
- noncapillary
- nonallergenic
- noncarcinogenic
- good handling
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption or inert
- inexpensive
- readily available
- easily sterilized
- do not favour bacteria
What are the properties of ideal suture? (13)
- maintain tensile strength
- nonelectrolytic
- nonca
What are two classifications of suture materials?
- absorbable vs nonabsorbable
2. natural vs synthetic
What are 8 absorbable sutures?
- collagen
- surgical gut
- polyglycolic acid
- polyglactin 910
- polydioxanone
- polyglyconate
- poliglecaprone 25
- glycomer 631
What are 7 non-absorbable suture materials?
- silk
- cotton
- nylon
- polypropylene
- polymerized caprolactam
- polyester
- stainless steel
What are the most important suture material properties to consider when deciding on what to use?
- maintain tensile strength
- noncapillary
- good handling
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption or inert
- not favour bacteria
What are the features of surgical gut?
- absorbable
- small intestine of cattle and sheep
- multifilament
- formaldehyde treated
- ionizing radiation
- not autoclavable
What features does surgical gut not fulfill
- only maintains tensile strength 50% @ 14d
- picks up moisture (capillary)
- non-secure knots. Have to leave long tails because picks up moisture
- minimal reactivity NO
- phagocytosis so absorption unpredictable unpredictable
- does not favor bacteria–NO–multifilament
What 1 feature does surgical gut fulfill
good handling
What 1 feature does surgical gut fulfill
good handling
What are the features of polyglycolic acid suture (dexon)
- multifilament
- synthetic
- absorbable
What properties does polyglycolic acid fulfill?
- maintains tensile strength-but short lived (20% @ 14d)
- good handling–saws tissue
- secure knots–long tails b/c wiggles
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption )100-120days)
7.
What properties does polyglycolic acid not fulfill?
- it is not noncapillary (braided)
2. it favours bacterial growth (braided)
What are the features of polyglactin 910? (coated vicryl)
- multifilament
- synthetic
- absorbable
What properties does polyglactin 910 fulfill?
- maintains tensile strength (50% @14, 20% @ 21)
- good handlinng–saws tissue
- secure knots but make tails long
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption (40-90 days)
7.
What two absorbable multifilament synthetic sutures have very similar properties? What is 1 difference?
- dexxon (polyglycolic acid)
- coated vicryl (polyglactin)
coated vicryl absorbed a bit faster than dexxon so then maybe put coated vicryl in area where abcess/infection may occur
What properties does polyglactin 910 fulfill?
- maintains tensile strength (50% @14, 20% @ 21)
- good handlinng–saws tissue
- secure knots but make tails long
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption (40-90 days)
7.
What two absorbable multifilament synthetic sutures have very similar properties? What is 1 difference?
- dexxon (polyglycolic acid)
- coated vicryl (polyglactin)
coated vicryl absorbed a bit faster than dexxon so then maybe put coated vicryl in area where abcess/infection may occur
What are the features of polydioxanone (PDS)
- absorbable
- monofilament
- synthetic
What properties does coated vicryl (polyglactin) not fulfil?
capillary
favours growth of bacteria
What properties does PDS (polydioxanone) fulfill?
- maintain tensile strength
What properties does PDS (polydioxanone) fulfill?
all of them
- maintain tensile strength (75% @14d, 58%@4weeks, 14%@8weeks)
- noncapillary
- good handling–can kink
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption (180d)
- does not favor bacteria
Why is PDS (polydioxanone) better than vicryl or dexxon?
much better strength retention
noncapillary
doesn’t favor bacteria
What are the features of polyglyconate? (maxon)
- absorbable
- monofilament
- synthetic
What properties does polyglyconate (maxon) have?
- maintains tensile strength–similar to PDS
- noncapillary
- good handling–doesn’t kink?
- secure knots–can be slippery
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption (180 d)
- does not favor bacteria
What are the features of poliglecaprone 25 (ethicon)
- absorbable
- monofilament
- synthetic
What properties does poliglecaprone (ethicon) have?
- maintains tensile strength (30% @ 14d)
- noncapillary
- good handling
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption (60-90d)
- does not favor bacteria
What is poliglecaprone 25 (ethicon) a good choice for?
subcutaneous/cutaneous closures where don’t need strength for long after and for wounds where there may be a few bacteria left in the wound
What are the features of glycomer 631 (biosyn)
- absorbable
- monofilament
- synthetic
What properties does glycomer 631 (biosyn) have?
- maintains tensile strength (50% @ 21 days)
- noncapillary
- good handling
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- depndeable absorption (90-110 days)
- does not favour bacteria
What is one good use for glycomer 631 (biosyn)
in uterine closure in cows where need more than 14 days of hoding power
What are the general features of dexon and vicryl?
- braided
2. relatively short lastinng
What are the general features of PDS and maxon?
- monogliament
- long holding capacities
- good for fascia closure
What are the general features of biosyn and monocryl?
can be used any place that would use dexon, vicryl, or gut
What are the features of poliglecaprone 25 (monocryl)
- absorbable
- monofilament
- synthetic
What properties does poliglecaprone (monocryl) have?
- maintains tensile strength (30% @ 14d)
- noncapillary
- good handling
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- dependable absorption (60-90d)
- does not favor bacteria
What is poliglecaprone 25 (monocryl) a good choice for?
subcutaneous/cutaneous closures where don’t need strength for long after and for wounds where there may be a few bacteria left in the wound
What are the general features of biosyn and monocryl?
can be used any place that would use dexon, vicryl, or gut
Place the absorbable sutures in order of maintenance of tensile strength
- PDS
- . maxon
- biosyn
- dexon
- coated vicryl
- surgical gut
- monocryl
Place the absorbable sutures in order of their absorption rate (slowest to fastest)
- PDS 180d
- Maxon 180d
- dexon 100-120d
- biosyn 90-110d
- monocryl 60-90d
- vicryl 40-90d
- surgical gut (unreliable)
What are the features of silk?
- non-absorbable
- multifilament
- natural
- ligature
- standard
What properties does silk have?
- maintains tensile strength 50%@1yr
- good handling
- secure knots
5.
6.
7.
8.
What properties does silk not have?
it is capillary
it is irritating (reactivity)
it is not inert
it favours bacterial growth
What are the features of cotton?
- non-absorbable
2. multifilament
What are the features of cotton?
- non-absorbable
- multifilament
- natural
- umbilical tape (?)
What properties does cotton have?
- tensile strength (50% @ 60 months)
- good handling
- secure knots–get tighter when wet
- 8.
What properties does cotton not have?
it has capillary effects
it has reactivity
it is not inert
it favors bacteria
What is cotton used for?
can be used for circumferencial loops around vulva or holding bandages on (not used that much)
What are the features of nylon?
- non-absorbable
- monofilament
- synthetic
What properties does nylon have?
- maintains tensile strength
- noncapillary
- good handling (memory)
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- inert
- does not favour bacteria–actually antibacterial
What is nylon a good choice for?
skin closure
What are the features of polypropylene (novafil, prolene)
- maintains tensile strength (but less than nylon)
- noncapillary
- good handling–slippery!!
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- inert
- does not favor bacteira
What are the features of polymerized caprolactam (vetafil/supramid)
- non-absorbable
- multifilament
- synthetic
- related to nylon
How is polymerized caprolactam (vetafil/supramid) typically packaged?
in cassettes
What are the properties of polymerized caprolactam (vetafil, supramid)
- maintains tensile strength (stronger than nylon)
- good handling
- secure knots
- inert
7.
What properties does caprolactam (vetafil, supramid) not have
it is not noncapillary because the coating breaks down and reveals multifilament
it is reactive–may cause animal to want to chew out sutures
it can favour bacteria
What suture should NOT be buried?
polymerized caprolactam
What suture should NOT be buried?
polymerized caprolactam
What are the features of polyester (ethibond)
- non-absorbable
- multifilament
- synthetic
What properties does polyester (ethibond) have?
- maintain tensile strength (better than nylon), very strong!
- good handling-saw tissue
- secure knots but must do 6 throws :(
5. - 8.
What properties does polyester (ethibond) not have?
is has capillary action
it is reactive
it is not inert
it favors bacteria
What is pretty well the only thing that polyester is used for?
laryngoplasty
What are the properties of stainless steel?
- maintain tensile strength (>nylon)
- noncapillary
- secure knots
- minimal reactivity
- inert
- not favour bacteria
What is a problem with stainless steel?
it can be hard to handle (requires experience)
What can stainless steel be used for in large animal?
to repair abomasal fistulas following plexy to abdominal wall
What are the non-absorbable sutures
- silk
- cotton
- nylon
- polypropylene (novafil)
- vetafil/supramid
- polyester (ethibond)
- stainless steel
What must strength of suture be related to when choosing a suture material?
the strength of the tissue
What must suture decay be related to when choosing a suture material?
tissue healing
What is the ideal suture type for skin?
monofilament non-absorbable
What is the ideal suture type for subcutaneous tissue?
synthetic absorbable (monocryl or biosyn)
What is the ideal suture type for facia?
monofilament absorbable or nonabsorbable
what is the ideal suture type for tendon?
monofilament absorbable (PDS, maxon) or nylon
What are two different types of suture needles in terms of attachment to suture? What are the differences?
1. swaged on less traumatic technically easier 2. eyed needle more traumatic technically difficult
What are two different types of suture needles in terms of attachment to suture? What are the differences?
1. swaged on less traumatic technically easier 2. eyed needle more traumatic technically difficult
What are 4 different shapes of needles?
- half circle
- 3/8 circle
- 1/2 curved
- straight
What are three types of points of suture needles?
- taper
- cutting
- reverse cutting
What is a taper cut?
The needle has a tapered body and a cutting point
What is a trocar point?
it has a round body and a point with edges
What determines the type of circle used for a wound?
the depth of the wound
What type of needle should be used for the skin?
cutting
What type of needle should be used for the bowel and subQ?
taper
What type of needle should be used for fascia, tendon?
taper or modfied cutting