Aseptic Technique and Surgical Assisting: Sutures and Needles

Flashcards covering suture materials, characteristics, sizes, packaging, and needle types from the lecture notes.

What is a swaged needle (or eyeless needle)?

A needle that comes with suture material pre-attached to it.

What are the key characteristics used to describe suture material?

Plain, chromic, capillarity, memory, tensile strength, flexibility, absorbability, knot security, and color.

What are the characteristics of monofilament suture material?

It consists of a single strand, is more resistant to microorganisms, offers less resistance to passage through tissue, and is more delicate to handling and tying.

What type of suture strand structure is depicted in this diagram?

Monofilament suture, consisting of a single strand.

What are the characteristics of multifilament suture material?

It consists of several strands braided together, is less stiff but has greater resistance, offers greater tensile strength and better flexibility, and handles and ties well.

What type of suture strand structure is depicted in this diagram?

Multifilament suture, consisting of several strands braided together.

What is absorbable suture material, and what are two examples?

Suture material that is dissolved or absorbed by the body to provide temporary wound support; examples include Polydioxanone (PDS) and Catgut (Gut or Chromic gut).

What is non-absorbable suture material, and what are three examples?

Suture material that is not dissolved or absorbed by the body and remains intact up to 2 yrs; examples include Nylon, Silk, and Stainless steel wire.

How is the suture size '0' pronounced?

It is pronounced as 'ought' (not zero).

Which suture sizes are commonly used in small animal medicine?

Sizes 4-0 through 2.

Which suture sizes are used for tiny delicate procedures?

Sizes 7-0 through 5-0.

How do suture sizes progress relative to thread thickness from 4-0 to 4?

4-0 is smaller, and as numbers move through 3-0, 2-0, 0, 1, 2, 3, to 4, the suture size gets larger.

What are the features of individual pouch suture packaging?

They contain swaged needles and sutures and are more expensive.

What are the features of cassette suture packaging?

They are multi-use and are the least expensive suture packaging option.

What metals are surgical needles made of?

Carbon or stainless steel.

What is the difference between a plain needle and a swaged needle?

Plain needles have eyes for threading, while swaged needles are eyeless with pre-attached suture.

What five features are used to classify needles?

Type of suture attachment, shape of needle body, the point, the cross-section, and the size.

What is the rule regarding needle size numbers and physical needle size?

The lower the number, the larger the needle.

What are the six needle types listed in the lecture?

Taper, Trocar point or tapercut, Cutting, Reverse cutting, Side cutting or spatula point, and Blunt point.

What needle point types and cross-sections are illustrated in this diagram?

1. Taper-point, 2. Taper-cut, 3. Regular cutting, 4. Reverse cutting, 5. Spatula point, and 6. Blunt point.