This document provides an overview of suturing as a technique for closing wounds to promote healing. It defines suturing as using a suture material or stitch to close a wound. The document outlines the objectives, introduction, definitions, reasons for suturing, classification of suture materials, suturing techniques/patterns, the suture tray requirements, steps for suturing a wound, and complications of suturing. The objectives are to define key terms, procedures, and identify complications of suturing. A demonstration is provided of the steps to suture a wound including preparing materials, administering anesthesia, threading a needle, and knotting and cutting stitches.

1. TEACHING PRACTICE
LESSON 34
BY
SIMON TUAH MENSAH (10397602)
&
SAMUEL KWADWO NYARKO (10418408)

2. As nurses, what are some of the ways we
can manage such a wound to promote
healing?

3. Suturing of a wound

4. Outline of the lesson
• Objectives
• Introduction
• Definition of suturing
• Reasons for suturing a wound
• Classification of suture material (stitch)

5. Outline of the lesson
• Patterns/techniques of suturing
• The suture tray-requirements
• Steps for suturing of a wound
• Complications of suturing of a
wound
• Summary

6. Objectives
By the end of the lesson, students will be able
to;
Define suturing
Enumerate the reasons for suturing
List the classifications of suture
material(stitches).
Differentiate between the types of suturing
patterns/ techniques

7. Objectives
List the requirements on a suture tray
Demonstrate the procedure for suturing
a wound
Identify some complications associated
with suturing

8. Introduction
• Wound is any injury to the body tissue
that involves a break in the continuity of
tissue or body structure (Martin, 2002).
• Inflammatory starts immediately after
injury to the body and healing follows
thereafter.

9. Introduction
• At times in order to speed up the process
of healing, wound closure techniques are
adopted to close the wound.
• Closing a wound with a suture(a process
called suturing), skin adhesives, ligating
clips and staples are some of the wound
closure techniques that are used to
promote wound healing.

10. Definitions
• Suturing is the process of using a suture
material(stitch) to close a wound.
• Suture material (stitch) is a strand of
fibre used to ligate blood vessels and
approximate tissues together.

11. Reasons for suturing
• To hold tissues in position until
healing has taken place.
• To maintain hemostasis/ arrest
bleeding
• Prevent bone exposure
• To prevent infection

12. Classification of suture material
A. Based on nature of absorption
i. Absorbable sutures
ii. Non- absorbable sutures
B. Based on the structure of material
i. Multifilament suture
ii. Monofilament suture

13. Illustration- classification of suture
based on structure of the material

14. Suturing techniques/patterns
1. Continuous suture pattern

15. Suturing techniques/patterns
2. Interrupted suture pattern

16. The suture tray- requirements

17. The suture tray-requirements
Surgical drapes/ sterile towels
Gauze swabs
 Suture materials/ stitch
Antiseptic solution (e.g. Saline)
Scalpel
 Surgical gloves

18. The suture tray- requirements
Dissecting forceps
Needle driver and suturing needle
Scissors
Local anaesthetic agent

20. .
DEMONSTRATION

21. Steps or procedure
Explain procedure to client
Scrub, dry hands with sterile towel and
put on sterile gloves
Protect the wound area with a surgical
drape and clean the area around the
wound with antiseptic lotion
Inject the local anaesthetic agent

22. Steps or procedure continued
Clean the wound thoroughly with an
antiseptic lotion
Thread needle with the desire suture
material
Grasp wound edges gently with toothed
forceps
Pass the threaded needle through the two
sides of the wound, making a knot and
cut leaving about 0.65cm from the knot.

23. Steps or procedure continued
Continue the suturing to close the
wound by spacing the stitches evenly
Clean the suture line with gauze and
antiseptic lotion
Apply dressing and strapping
Remove gloves and discard tray
Wash hands and document the
procedure

24. Complications of suturing wound
• Keloid
• Infection
• Reaction to the suture material

25. Summary
• Today we have learnt;
• Suturing is one of the techniques of
closing a wound
• Suturing is a process of closing a wound
with a stitch to promote healing
• The reasons for suturing
• The classification of suture material

26. Summary
• The requirements on the suture tray
• The procedure for suturing and some
complications associated with
suturing

27. Assignment
Read on the procedure for the
removal of stitches on a patient

28. References
• Aketewah, S.D. (2004). Surgery/Surgical Nursing.
Starrich Ventures, Accra.
• Edgerton, M. (1988). The Art of Surgical Technique.
Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore.
• Maxine, L. P. et al. (1986). Medical- Surgical
Nursing. J.B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia.
• McCarthy, J. (1990). Introduction to plastic surgery.
W.B. Saunders, Philadelphia
• Rothrock , C.J. (2007). Care of the Patient in Surgery.
Mosby Inc., China.

29. Thank you
Questions
&
contributions