Classification of Sutures

Monofilament Synthetic
Absorbable

Multifilament Biological
Non - Absorbable

Monofilament
Advantages
Smooth surface Less tissue trauma No bacterial harbours

Disadvantages
Handling & knotting
Ends/knot burial Stretch

No capillarity

Multifilament
Advantages
Strength Soft & pliable Good handling

Disadvantages
Bacterial harbours
Capillary action Tissue trauma

Good knotting

Synthetic
Advantages
Non-Absorbables are inert Absorbables resemble

Disadvantages
Monofilament handling

natural substances
Absorption by hydrolysis

Predictable absorption
Strength

Biological
Advantages
Handling & knotting Economy

Disadvantages
Tissue reactions

Absorbable
Advantages
Broken down by body

Disadvantages
Consideration of

wound support time

No foreign body left

Non - Absorbable
Advantages
Permanent wound
Disadvantages
Foreign body left

Support

Suture removal can be

costly and inconvenient

Sinus & Extrusion if

left in place

ETHICON Sutures
ABSORBABLE NON-ABSORBABLE

BIOLOGICAL

SYNTHETIC

BIOLOGICAL

SYNTHETIC

VICRYL* rapide Suture MONOCRYL* Suture Coated VICRYL* Suture Coated VICRYL* Plus Suture PDS*II Suture

MERSILK* Suture

MERSILENE* Suture ETHIBOND* Suture

PROLENE* Suture
PRONOVA* Suture ETHILON* Suture NUROLON* Suture Stainless Steel Wire

Monofilament version VICRYL* Suture available for use in ophthalmic surgery MERSILENE* Suture - trochanter suture is braided

ETHICON Absorbable Sutures

Wound Support Mass Absorption By 42 days Typical Uses
Skin Perineum Oral Lacerations
Ligature Mucosa Obstetrics Bowel Skin

VICRYL* rapide

10 days

MONOCRYL*

20 days

90 - 120 days

Coated VICRYL*
Coated VICRYL*

30 days

56 - 70 days

Ligature General Bowel Ophthalmic

Plus Antibacterial
Suture

30 days

56 - 70 days

Ligature General Bowel Orthopaedics Traumatology Ligaments Fascia Vessel anastomosis

PDS* II

60 days

180 - 210 days

Volume % Reduction With Decreasing Size

2/0 3/0 4/0 5/0 6/0 7/0 8/0
51% 40% 49% 54% 50% 44%

Anatomy of a Surgical Needle

Use of Needle Holders

Loading Needle

Needle passing through skin

Needle Shapes
Eye Microsurgery Nasal cavity Nerve Skin Tendon

Dura Eye Fascia Nerve Muscle Eye Skin Peritoneum Cardiovascular Oral Pelvis Urogenital tract

Eye (Anterior segment)

Laparoscopy

Round Bodied Needles

TAPERPOINT

Cutting Needles
Conventional Cutting
Reverse Cutting PRIME P Needle

Packaging
Imperial Gauge Metric Gauge Product (re-order) Code

Needle size & curvature

Needle type Needle point Needle profile

Sterilised Ethylene Oxide

Do Not Re-use See Instructions for use

Batch Number Expiry date

Skin Adhesive: key points

Butyl or 2-octyl Cyanoacrylate Topical i.e. not to be put into the wound Low tension dry & haemostatic wounds 2-octyl cyanoacrylate provides a waterproof microbial barrier Patients may prefer wound aftercare Always read manufacturers instructions