All of us experience minor wounds which can be healed just by putting a bandage on them. However, if the wound is deeper, then there is a need to employ some wound closure method which might include the use of absorbable sutures, non-absorbable sutures, skin staples, tissue adhesives, zippers, etc. Among these skin closure techniques, a comparison is often made between the efficacies of a suture kit vs surgical stapler.
In this article, let us explore what suture kit vs surgical staplers are, how they differ, and which one can be considered better than the other.
What is a Suture Kit?
Suturing or stitching is a well-known technique for closing wounds. It involves the use of suture thread which is employed to stitch the wound with the help of a curved surgical needle. Depending upon the material which is used to manufacture sutures, these can be classified as absorbable as well as non-absorbable sutures.
The absorbable ones dissolve in the skin after 2 to 3 months of application while the non-absorbable ones remain the same. That’s why, there is a need for removing these sutures once the wound has been healed. Sutures can either be made from natural materials such as animal intestinal tissue or from manmade items such as nylon, plastic, silk, etc.
Pros
The following are some of the advantages of sutures:
· Sutures are suitable for stitching wounds in which the skin closure times are higher i.e. they take much longer to get healed.
· Suture closure is a preferred method for tying off the blood vessels. In addition, the technique can also be used for intestinal tying.
· When there is a need to close the surgical incisions, suturing is the commonly employed technique.
· The wounds which affect muscles or connective tissues can also be efficiently sealed using suturing.
· Fast-absorbing sutures can be employed for skin grafts, a method in which healthy skin is patched on the wounded area from where the skin tissue has been lost.
· Absorbable sutures are often used when suturing is to be done on the inside of the oral cavity or in blood vessels that are near the skin surface.
Cons
Suturing is the oldest as well as the most widely employed method for wound closure. Still, there are certain problems and complications associated with the technique. These include the following:
· Tight suturing on the wound can cause suture tension, a condition associated with certain skin difficulties. In addition, the patient often experiences post-operative pain.
· If the sutures are too loose, the risk of skin displacement increases. This leads to interrupted or improper recovery of the wounds.
· In some cases, the suture thread ruptures after application. This causes a great deal of pain to the patient. There is also a need to redo the stitching.
· With suturing, it is common to experience congestion at the wounded site, and inflammation, as well as a foreign body reaction caused due to a hypersensitivity reaction.
· Sutures should not be used on wounds in which the risk of contamination is higher. These include wounds on the hands or feet as well as puncture wounds.
What is a Surgical Stapler?
Surgical staples are one of the commonly used methods for handling open wounds. The process involves stapling the skin edges just like a stapler is used to connect the pages together. These staples also come in absorbable as well as non-absorbable versions.
Surgical staplers can be employed in a vast range of surgical procedures which include gynecological surgeries, gastrointestinal operations, as well as thoracic procedures. Their job is to connect the tissues together as well as to cut into the organs followed by tissue removal.
Pros
Skin staples are extensively employed in surgery and provide the following advantages:
· Applying a surgical staple is less time-consuming as compared to suturing.
· Between stapling versus suturing, the former is preferred as it does not leave prominent wound scars after the recovery.
· With the use of absorbable staplers, the risk of wound infections is significantly reduced.
· One of the potential benefits of staplers is that these are easy to remove as compared to sutures.
Cons
A surgical stapler might seem an easy and harmless technique but it also has some disadvantages which are as follows:
· In case of a surgical staple malfunction, the risk of moderate to severe complications elevates. As a result, bleeding and sepsis can occur with an increased risk of tissue and organ damage, cancer recurrence, as well as death.
· If the staples are made up of using titanium, the patients might get an allergic reaction. In this case, the staples need to be removed and replaced with any other material which does not cause hypersensitivity.
Suture Kit vs Surgical Staples: Economic Analysis
A study reported in Am J Emerg Med. has reported a comparison of the cost of wound closure using a suture kit vs surgical stapler. The null hypothesis was that there is no difference between the costs of procedures conducted using suture kit vs surgical stapler.
To test this hypothesis, patients were randomly assigned into two groups i.e. suture group and staple group. Each of these groups was treated with either sutures or staples and the total cost of the procedure was calculated. This included the cost of materials as well as the labor.
When the results for suture kit vs surgical stapler were compared, it was found that surgical staplers are less expensive. However, the cost of the procedure also depends upon the wound depth, length, and severity. As the laceration length increases, the cost of the procedures also becomes elevated.
Suture Kit vs Surgical Staples for Skin Closure: Which is Better?
The above-mentioned comparison of suture kit vs surgical stapler has revealed that both devices have their own advantages as well as disadvantages. Where sutures are ideal for deeper wounds which have longer healing time, surgical staples are suitable in cases where scarring needs to be avoided at any cost.
Studies have made a comparison of suture kit vs surgical stapler. Some of these have revealed that, with the use of surgical staples, the risk of composite wound morbidity is relatively higher. This means the risk of complications such as infections, fluid accumulation, as well as disruption of the skin at the site of the wound is higher.
Keeping this in mind, suture kits can be considered superior to surgical staples. However, the choice is dependent on the type of wound, the area of the skin, as well as the surgeon’s choice.
Suture Kit vs Surgical Staplers at Health Supply 770: Products and Specifications
Suture kit vs surgical staplers are two of the most widely used wound closure techniques during surgical procedures. As both of these are often employed, many brands manufacture suture kits, their components, as well as surgical staplers. The following section covers some of the suture kit vs surgical staplers which are available at Health Supply 770 along with their prices and purchase links:
945B Suture 5-0 10” Nylon Monofilament C-6 Black 12/Box
$42.88
(12 pieces per box)
Product Details
945B Suture 5-0 10” nylon monofilament C-6 are 10-inch long sutures that are single-use and non-absorbable. These are suitable to cover larger wound lengths as their tensile strength is greater. These nylon-based sutures are not coated with any chemical agents so the risk of hypersensitivity is much lower. The needles that come with these sutures are of C-6 type, their curvature and length are 3/8 circle and 18 mm respectively.
J & J Healthcare J496G Suture, Vicryl UD BR CT 4-0 18” PS2
$295.88
(12 pieces per box)
Product Details
J & J Healthcare J496G vicryl UD BR CT 4-0 18” PS2 absorbable sutures are often chosen by doctors for ligating soft tissue wounds. Their thread is strong enough to hold the wound together for up to 3 weeks. These also provide easy knot-tying.
However, these absorbable sutures lose strength over time and then dissolve completely into the skin. These J & J Healthcare sutures can be employed during orthopedic surgeries, reproductive tract operations, as well as tissue/muscle approximation.
Covidien 8886442243 Novafil Monofilament Polybutester Suture, Reverse Cutting, Size 3-0, Blue, 18″, Needle C-14, 3/8 Circle, 1 dz/bx
$98.88
(1 dozen per box)
Product Details
Covidien 8886442243 Novafil monofilament polybutester sutures are employed for their flexibility as well as the strength they offer to hold the wound. Blue dye has been applied on the suture thread so that it can be identified easily. Moreover, their property such as good knot dying capacity allows the stitches to be applied easily and quickly. Due to their firm nature, these sutures do not loosen up so the risk of tissue dragging is minimal.
The Covidien Novafil monofilament polybutester sutures are ideal for soft tissue surgery where ligation is required. Moreover, these can also be employed during ophthalmic, neurological, as well as cardiovascular surgeries.
Covidien VLOCM0644 V-Loc 90 and 180 Sutures
V-Loc 90: $790.88
(12 pieces per box)
V-Loc 180: $480.88
(12 pieces per box)
Product Details
Covidien VLOCM0644 V-Loc 90 and 180 non-slip sutures are known for strong wound-holding capacity, less painful procedures, as well as high patient satisfaction. Their V-Loc system is smooth and has dual-angle cut which reduces the risk of slipping the thread from its place. Between a suture kit vs surgical stapler, these sutures are most effective on wounds that affect the soft tissues.
Covidien Circular Stapler with DST EEAXL25
$664.58
Product Details
Covidien circular DST EEAXL25 staplers have a 25 mm lumen size. Their capacity to staple thicker tissues is higher due to the presence of a 4.8 mm staple height. The DTS technology of these staplers allows a stronger grip as well as less stapler divergence.
These devices come in white color. As the product is single-use, there is no need to disinfect them after use. As a result, the cost of sterilization is saved. These Covidien circular staplers are versatile enough to be employed in various surgeries.
ConMed 8535 Reflex One Squeeze-Handle Wound Stapler 6/CS
$71.99
Product Details
ConMed 8535 Reflex one squeeze-handle wound stapler 6/CS is wide and has 35 staples per device. Their ergonomic design allows the surgeon to hold the device firmly due to the ample distance between the handle of the stapler and the skin. The risk of edema with the use of ConMed staplers is minimal so they are much safer. Between a suture kit vs surgical stapler, these staplers are preferable and can be employed for tissue approximation.
*Note: The prices mentioned in the article for suture kit vs surgical stapler are taken from the Health Supply 770 website. These may vary depending on the vendor.
All the components of a suture kit vs surgical staplers mentioned in the article, along with many other medical supplies, can be ordered from Health Supply 770 (https://hs770.com/), a reliable name when it comes to medical products. They have a 30-day money-back guarantee and provide your products to you in the shortest possible time. Click the links given at the end of the article to check out the different components of the suture kit vs surgical staplers.
Bottom Line
Suture kit vs surgical stapler are two of the most widely employed methods for closing wounds. Both of these methods have their own pros and cons. The average time taken by the sutures to seal the wounds is greater than that of surgical staplers. However, applying surgical staples is quick and easy. In addition, staple removal is a time-saving process.
Therefore, when it comes to choosing between a suture kit vs surgical stapler, the decision should be made based on the wound type, depth, location, as well as the overall cost of the process. For ordering different components of a suture kit vs surgical staplers, reliable vendors like Health Supply 770 should be approached. They ensure the provision of quality products along with satisfactory services.
References
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7832962
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3875219
PhD Scholar (Pharmaceutics), MPhil (Pharmaceutics), Pharm D, B. Sc.
Uzma Zafar is a dedicated and highly motivated pharmaceutical professional currently pursuing her PhD in Pharmaceutics at the Punjab University College of Pharmacy, University of the Punjab. With a comprehensive academic and research background, Uzma has consistently excelled in her studies, securing first division throughout her educational journey.
Uzma’s passion for the pharmaceutical field is evident from her active engagement during her Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) program, where she not only mastered industrial techniques and clinical case studies but also delved into marketing strategies and management skills.
