Suturing Procedure

Definition: The application of stitch on body tissues with the surgical needle & thread.

Purpose
• To approximate wound edges until healing occurs
• To speed up healing of wound
• To minimize the chance of infection
• For esthetic purpose

Equipment
• Tray or trolley covered with a sterile towel
• Sterile needle holder
• Sterile round needle (2)
• Sterile cutting needle (2)
• Sterile silk
• Sterile cat- gut
• Sterile tissue forceps
• Sterile suture scissors
• Sterile cotton swabs in a galipots
• Sterile solution for cleaning
• Sterile dressing forceps
• Sterile receiver
• Sterile gauze
• Sterile plaster
• Dressing scissors
• Local anesthesia
• Sterile needle & syringes
• Sterile gloves
• Sterile hole- towel (Fenestrated towel)

Procedure
• Explain procedure to patient
• Adjust light
• Wash your hands
• Clean the wound thoroughly
• Wash your hands again
• Put on sterile gloves
• Drape the Wound with the hold- sheet
• Infiltrate the edges of the wound to be sutured with local anesthesia.
• Approximate the edges of the fascia with the help of the tissue forceps and using the round needle and cat- gut. Suture the fascia layer first.
• Using the cutting needle and silk, suture the outer layer of skin approximating the edges with the help of the tissue forceps.
• Clean with iodine and cover with sterile gauze.
• Remove the hole- Sheet
• Make patient comfortable
• Remove all equipment, wash & return to its proper place or send for sterilization.

Note:
• Do not suture wounds that are over 12 hrs old. How ever, such wounds have to be seen by a doctor since excision of all dead & devitalized tissue and eventual suturing may be required.
• Check that the patient gets his order for T.A.T before he leaves the hospital.
• Do not suture deep wound.
• Before you suture any wound, make sure it is free of any foreign bodies.