Define the following scalpel blades:
10
Chapter 6 / Surgical Instruments 51
Number 10
Number 11
Number 15
RETRACTORS (YOU WILL GET TO KNOW THEM WELL!)
What does it mean to “toe in” |
To angle the tip of the retractor in by |
the retractor? |
angling the retractor handle up |
Identify the following |
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retractors: |
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Deaver retractor |
52 Section I / Overview and Background Surgical Information
Sweetheart retractor (Harrington)
Army–Navy retractor
Weitlaner retractor also known as a “WHEATY” (self-retaining retractor; sorry, operates without a student!)
Bookwalter retractor
Chapter 7 / Sutures and Stitches 53
Richardson retractor, also known as a “RICH”
What is a “malleable” |
Metal retractor that can be bent to |
retractor? |
customize to the situation at hand |
C h a p t e r 7
Sutures and
Stitches
SUTURE MATERIALS
GENERAL INFORMATION
What is a suture? Any strand of material used to ligate blood vessels or to approximate tissues
How are sutures sized? By diameter; stated as a number of O’s: the higher the number of O’s, the smaller the diameter (e.g., 2-O suture has a larger diameter than 5-O suture)
Which is thicker, 1-O suture 1-O suture (pronounced “one oh”) or 3-O suture?
54 Section I / Overview and Background Surgical Information
CLASSIFICATION
What are the two most basic |
Absorbable and nonabsorbable |
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suture types? |
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What is an absorbable |
Suture that is completely broken down |
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suture? |
by the body (dissolving suture) |
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What is a nonabsorbable |
Suture is not broken down (permanent |
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suture? |
suture) |
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SUTURES |
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Catgut |
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What are “catgut” sutures |
Purified collagen fibers from the intestines |
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made of? |
of healthy cows or sheep (sorry, no cats) |
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What are the two types of |
Plain and chromic |
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gut sutures? |
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What is the difference |
Chromic gut is treated with chromium salts |
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between plain and chromic |
(chromium trioxide), which results in more |
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gut? |
collagen crosslinks, making the suture more |
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resistant to breakdown by the body |
Vicryl® Suture |
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What is it? |
Absorbable, braided, multifilamentous |
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copolymer of lactide and glycoside |
How long does it retain its |
60% at 2 weeks, 8% at 4 weeks |
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strength? |
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Should you ever use |
NO—it may cause purple tattooing |
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PURPLE-colored Vicryl® |
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for skin closure? |
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PDS® |
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What is it? |
Absorbable, monofilament polymer of |
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polydioxanone (absorbable fishing line) |
How long does it maintain |
70% to 74% at 2 weeks, 50% to 58% at |
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its tensile strength? |
4 weeks, 25% to 41% at 6 weeks |
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How long does it take to |
180 days (6 months) |
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complete absorption? |
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