Periodic Tables

Sutures stitch body tissue edges together to properly heal wounds or incisions. Absorbable sutures and non-absorbable sutures are the two types of sutures used for wound closure. Holding the tissue long enough to mend, the absorbable catgut styles will eventually disintegrate and are proficient solutions for working with internal body organs. Non-absorbable sutures may have performance enhancing coatings for topical skin closures. Although suture materials are foreign body they are inert and nontoxic and are perfect for holding the wounded skin edges together. Suture techniques like simple interrupted sutures are preferred for their improved tensile strength and cosmetic results. Other techniques that holds the wound edges together and are used to close a wound include simple continuous sutures, vertical mattress sutures and subcutaneous sutures. Designed for specific procedures, the sterile medical equipment is used when permanent retention is not mandatory. While braided sutures will maintain knot integrity better, monofilament will cause less patient reactions. VWR offers a wide variety of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures, suture needle holders and suture removal instruments.