Suture and Staple Removal
This type of material is used to sew body tissues together and can be absorbent or nonabsorbent.
What are sutures?
Before removing sutures, the nurse should review this from the health care provider to know which sutures to remove.
What is the prescription?
If this occurs during suture removal, the remaining sutures or staples are left in place and the health care provider is notified.
What is suture line separation?
This action must be taken if any signs of infection are observed at the incision site after suture removal.
What is report it to the health care provider?
If wound edges are separated or signs of infection are present, the nurse should notify this individual immediately.
Who is the health care provider?
Sutures and staples are generally removed within this time frame after surgery if healing is adequate.
What is 7 to 14 days?
To reduce the spread of infections, nurses must perform this action during the 4 moments of patient contact.
What is hand hygiene?
These types of gloves should be used if the patient has a latex allergy.
What are latex-free gloves?
This type of technique is required during suture or staple removal to prevent infection.
What is aseptic technique?
During suture removal, Steri-Strips can be applied to support the wound if there is concern about this happening.
What is wound dehiscence?
This type of suture usually remains in place for 14 to 21 days.
What are retention sutures?
This should be assessed before removing sutures to determine the patient’s comfort level.
What is pain level?
A patient's wound healing ability may be impaired by pre-existing conditions such as this chronic disease affecting blood sugar levels.
What is diabetes?
After removing sutures or staples, the nurse should clean the incision with antiseptic swabs or sterile saline, using a new one for each swipe to remove these.
What is surface bacteria?
Nurses should stop suture removal immediately if they observe this during the procedure.
What is wound separation or poor healing?
These stainless steel closures are quick to use and provide strength, often used in abdominal incisions and orthopedic surgery.
What are staples?
After suture or staple removal, this type of strip is applied to provide support to the incision.
What are Steri-Strips?
Following suture or staple removal, the nurse should observe for any signs of this condition that involves the reopening of the wound.
What is dehiscence?
When inspecting the incision after suture removal, nurses must look for signs of this, such as redness, swelling, or purulent drainage.
What is infection?
This type of suture removal technique helps decrease the chance of wound dehiscence.
What is removing every second suture?
When removing sutures, this critical action reduces the chance of wound dehiscence.
What is removing every second suture?
This type of suture technique involves sutures being placed in tissue layers of deep wounds and superficially as the final closure.
What is the continuous suture technique?
This type of suture placement avoids bringing the exposed, contaminated surface of the suture into the tissue below the skin.
What is intermittent suture placement?
To prevent infection, these must be disposed of in a designated sharps container after suture or staple removal.
What are used scissors and staple extractors?
If a patient shows signs of extreme anxiety or has a large wound, this should be administered 30 minutes before the procedure to ensure comfort.
What is an analgesic?