Perform Suture and Staple Removal

Vocabulary flashcards covering the guidelines, equipment, and procedures for suture and staple removal.

Pre-Procedure Wound Inspection

A thorough examination of the wound prior to suture or staple removal to approximate the edges and check for the absence or presence of drainage.

Saline Soaking

A pre-procedure step used to soak wounds that have crusting blood or exudate prior to the removal of sutures or staples.

Suture Removal Kit

A disposable kit containing suture scissors and forceps used to perform suture removal.

Staple Removal Kit

A kit containing a staple removal device, sterile gauze, forceps, sterile gloves, and antiseptic.

Antiseptic Solutions

Cleansing agents such as alcohol or pvidone-iodine solution used to thoroughly cleanse the skin and allowed to dry before and after suture or staple removal.

Suture Cutting Technique

The action of cutting the suture with suture scissors below the knot and as close to the skin as possible.

Alternating Suture Removal

The practice of removing every other suture first and observing the incision line for separation before returning to remove the remaining sutures.

Suture Extraction Rule

The safety rule stating to pull the long remaining suture out and never pull suture material that is outside the skin through the skin.

Indications to Stop Procedure

The presence of gaping, bleeding, or exudate at any time during removal, requiring the procedure to stop and the health care provider to be notified.

Biohazard Waste Container

The appropriate container for the disposal of removed sutures.

Sharps Waste Container

The appropriate container for the disposal of removed staples.

Butterfly Closures

Closures used after the removal of sutures or staples to provide reinforcement to the wound depending on its condition and location.

Suture and Staple Documentation

The mandatory task of counting the number of staples or sutures removed prior to disposal and recording that number in the patient's health record.