Document Actions
Appendix 5
Suture Selection
SUTURE | CHARACTERISTICS AND FREQUENT USES |
| Vicryl®, Dexon® | Absorbable; 60-90 days. Ligate or suture tissues where an absorbable suture is desirable. |
| PDS® or Maxon® | Absorbable; 6 months. Ligate or suture tissues especially where an absorbable suture and extended wound support is desirable. |
| Prolene® | Nonabsorbable. Inert. |
| Nylon | Nonabsorbable. Inert. General closure. |
| Silk | Nonabsorbable. (Caution: tissue reactive and may wick microorganisms into the wound.) Silk is very easy to use and knot. Silk is not acceptable for suturing skin. |
| Chromic gut | Absorbable. Versatile material. Causes mild inflammation, but is absorbed more rapidly than synthetics. Chromic gut is not acceptable for suturing skin. |
| Stainless steel wound clips, staples | Nonabsorbable. Requires instrument for removal from skin. |
Suture gauge selection: Use the smallest gauge suture material that will perform adequately.
Cutting and reverse cutting needles: Provide edges that will cut through dense, difficult to penetrate tissue, such as skin.
Non-cutting, taper point or round needles: Have no edges to cut through tissue; used primarily for suturing easily torn tissues such as peritoneum or intestine.