| A | B |
|---|
| Absorbable suture | Capable of being absorbed by tissue within a given period of time |
| Nonabsorbable suture | Resists absorption by tissue, becomes encapsulated |
| Monofilament suture | Made of a single thread-like structure |
| Multifilament suture | Multiple thread-like structures braided or twisted into a single strand |
| Capillarity | The ability to harbor bacteria/retain tissue fluids that can be communicated along the strand length |
| Natural absorbable suture | Naturally occuring substance, digested by body enzymes |
| Synthetic absorbable suture | Polymers from petroleum based products, hydrolyzed by the body |
| Ligature/ free tie | Used to occlude vessels for hemorrhage control or for organ/extremity removal. No needle. |
| Suture liagature/stick tie | Sutures loaded on a needle holder. Occludes bleeding vessels. |
| Continuous/running stitch | A single strand of suture placed as a series of stitches. Tied at the beginning and end. |
| Interrupted stitch | Closure of choice for tissues under tension. Individually placed and tied. |
| Traction stitch | Used to retract a structure that may not be easily retracted with retractor |
| Pursestring stitch | Drawstring suture placed in a circular fashion around a lumen, pull on ends closes opening |
| Primary suture line | The sutures that approximate wound edges |
| Secondary suture line | Used for support of the primary suture line, eases tension, reinforces wound closure |
| Retention stitches | Added wound reinforcement. Large gauge,interrupted, nonabsorbable sutures |
| Bridges | Plastic devices that "bridge" the closed incision |
| Bolsters | Plastic/rubber tubing pieces threaded over retention suture. Prevents skin cutting |
| Buttons | Used for tendon repair, sutures pulled through holes;tied. Prevents tissue damage |
| Umbilical tape | Used for retraction/isolation device for bowel/vessels/ducts. |
| Vessel loops | Used for retraction of delicate structures. Colored for easy identification. |
| Subcuticular stitch | Used to minimize scarring. A continuous suture placed under the epithelial skin layer |
| Tensile strength | Amount of pull or tension a suture strand will withstand before breaking |
