Are you a med student ready to learn about suturing?
Suturing or wound closure is an invaluable and life-saving skill that everyone should learn. It may be part of emergency medical training or in your curriculum as a medical student.
Learning on the job isn't ideal with the blood spatter and high stakes of real-life wounds. Boost your confidence through training with a suture practice kit!
However, it's best to keep in mind that not all suture kits are equal. So, how do you find the right one for you? Read more about what to look for in a quality suture kit.
Components
When purchasing a suture kit, review the kit's contents to see if it meets your training needs. A standard set should have the following elements:
Suture Pad
The suture pad is a sturdy, layered pad meant to mimic the texture of human skin and underlying flesh. Suture pads from Medical Creations boast a built-in vertical mesh on a horizontal mesh layer. This best simulates simple and deep suturing practice.
Tools
The suture kit should have various tools that simulate medical-grade surgical instruments. Elements of a good tool kit include a needle driver, Adson and mosquito forceps, surgical scissors, and a scalpel.
Use the scalpel or scalpel handle with a blade to make precise cuts. With well-made suture pads, you can even make incisions to practice personalized cuts. Use surgical scissors for elegant and clean cuts on thread and flesh.
Adson forceps grasp delicate tissues like those in the eyes, nose, and throat. They are gentle enough to hold skin and vasculature in general surgery. Curved mosquito forceps with aligned teeth help you clamp down on blood vessels or hold delicate tissues.
Needle drivers are the primary tools for suturing. They help you guide the needle and weave life-saving closures.
Don't forget that these tools aren't medical-grade, allowing you to save money. However, they are close enough to the real thing to hone your skills!
Case
You might not list a suture pad case on your must-have kit components. However, you need to house all of your suture pad components in a compartment.
With all of the needles, forceps, and threads, it's very easy to misplace them. Keep them tucked away in a case for safe and easy access.
A case also ensures your tools are safe from damage and from damaging anything else. Your tools are sharp; you don't want to cut yourself by accident. Additionally, you don't want your tools to get chipped or bent.
Surgical Blades
Scalpels tend to get dull over time. Some scalpels have a blade holder at their end instead to bypass this problem.
These blade holders secure disposable blades. If your blade edge becomes dull, you have an easy replacement. Find blades that are compatible with your scalpel tip.
Threads
Finally, you have the thread that keeps your suture from falling apart. Some brands have one or more types of thread available in their kits.
Types of threads usually differ by material type. You'll find synthetic polymers such as nylon or organic silk braided types.
Quality
Now that you know what a proper suturing kit includes, it's time to narrow your options. Here are some things to keep in mind to help you find quality kits.
Durability
One of the most crucial selling points of suture kits is reusability. Before suture pads, medical trainees would practice sutures on grapes or chicken parts.
A suture pad made of durable silicon is far more reusable and increases the accessibility of suture training. It beats buying perishable and expensive chicken breasts. Save the poultry for the dinner table and avoid salmonella contamination!
Practicing medical professionals developed our suture pads, ensuring quality and a lifelike feel.
Sharpness
They say a dull knife is more dangerous than a sharp knife, and the same goes with needles. When suturing, you're puncturing through the skin. Dull needles mean you're tearing at the skin and causing more damage.
No matter the quality of your suture pad, a dull needle ripping at its membranes will cause it to wear out more quickly.
Dull needles won't give an accurate simulation of the suturing practice you need. Suturing is a delicate and precise procedure. You won't get the same effect when you're frustrated and stabbing with a dull needle.
Nevertheless, remember that the provided equipment isn't the real thing. These tools aren't medical-grade but are still valuable for training. Master the practice suture kit, so you have the confidence to work on real flesh with real instruments in the future!
Resupply
A high-quality suture pad should last you a long time. However, as you practice on your kit, you will run out of consumable items like threads. Over time, you may need to replace lost or worn-out needles.
Sourcing compatible needles and threads is one of the foreseeable issues you may come across in the future. When purchasing a suture practice kit, you want to ensure that your retailer has this in mind.
Check if they have available threads and needles, so you don't have to worry about running out in the future. Replenish your supply and learn without a hitch!
Extras
Extras are the last on the list because even though they aren't necessary, they are still nice to have around.
This suture kit comes with a free suture training eBook written by medical professionals! Not only that, but you gain access to high-definition videos by doctors. Have a step-by-step guide and demonstration delivered right to your doorstep.
Find Yourself the Right Suture Practice Kit Today
Learning to suture is an indispensable skill. Whether you're in the medical field or not, a suture practice kit will be a valuable asset. Get the best bang for your buck with complete components, quality products, and replaceable consumables.
Thank you for reading our article! Boost your confidence and get stitching with a suture practice kit! Contact us today to get yours and hone your medical skills.
