Suturing under austere conditions

[monkeybird]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_og7HbVMrU

I found a link on the survivalblog about suturing. This video however was done under ideal conditions. While perusing the subject, I came across USNEDDOC videos on suturing under austere conditions. This is a 4 part video and is EXCELLENT.

I never thought of using a Weatherman as a needle driver. Anyway - his technique is excellent.

[Rmplstlskn]

Thanks for the video link... I downloaded it and it will make a good addition to my medical video library.

Rmpl

[Matt In Oklahoma]

Went back and downloaded this, thanks again! There is gonna be another sewing time piece of chicken in my future for practice. I'm gonna try and get the kids involved too. I will post it if I get it recorded

[Bear4570]

The last Emergency Room I worked at tried these disposable suture kits, they bought a bunch, docs hated them and told them to go back to the re-usable kits that they always used. Docs got thier way and my boss was looking for somewhere to donate them to, I asked her on the sly if she wanted to donate a case to me, told me she did not want to know why and gave me a case. Been storing them for a lot of years. After 5 years as a Navy Corspman, another 4 as a Ortho Tech in surgery and 22 years in the ED as an RN, I got a little experience suturing. Last summer my wife and I were at one of our local Rendezvous (we are Buckskinners by hobby) One of the kids cut his thumb pretty good, when Mom called the local ED and found out there was a 4 hours wait, she asked me if I had the stuff to fix it.
Well I carry a pretty extensive kit in my vehicle, up to and including a small O2 tank, so with 6 people holding flashlights I sutured the kids thumb at 9:00 at night. Turned out pretty good. Never miss a chance to keep up your skills. If you want to practice there is some real good information in the book Emergency War Surgery and Where there is no Doctor. You can do a good job with just some forceps and a needle driver, suture material can be found pretty cheap and is packed sterile. They best thing to practice on is Pork Hoks, durn near the same texture as human skin.

[goatlady]

Just keep in mind how important it is to know WHEN to suture and when to NOT suture.

[Bear4570]

Just keep in mind how important it is to know WHEN to suture and when to NOT suture.

That is more important than knowing how to suture and what type of wounds should not be sutured or partially sutured goes right along with it. It is not for the faint at heart as you can cause more problems by closing some wounds then leaving them open. A lot of variables, so before you try this at home folks, research, research and more research.

[David]

What did you do about anestesia? Lidocaine and other meds like it are not easy to come by and in a SHTF scenario someone who really needs it may choose not to be stitched up if they have to just grit their teeth and chew on a leather belt to make it through. I have heard that a mixture of Datura and Hemp Oil is effective in blocking the pain but that is dangerous, not to mention a bit illegal(hemp oil). But in a SHTF situation the legalities may not be an issue but unless you know alot about Datura it may be more dangerous to use it than just letting a gash heal the best it can.

Anestesia is an empty spot in my survival med kit that needs to be filled and if their is anyone with any input on this matter I would appreciate the some feedback.

[Lowdown3]

I cut a golf ball size boil off a relative's back about a decade ago. We used lidocaine but it was a "little" old- 5 years out of date. It worked but we needed significantly more than normal. Or it could be that the relative was a little girl about it, not sure.... ;)

In retrospect, I should have choked him out and then made the cut while he was out..... I wonder if that would work? LOL Probably not, people tend to "flav" a little bit when they are out.

[MustangGal]

Tying sutures is an art. Practice, practice, practice!

[Mjollnir]

Check your used book stores for med school text books. I picked up a copy of "Wounds & Lacerations-Emergency care & Closure" for $2.50 a couple years ago. Pigs feet are great to practice on. Not just suturing but wound cleaning too.

[Woodlife]

What your thoughts on using dental floss for stitching string? I think it's hard enough, and waxed so it should be easily removable. I'm putting together a Suture kit and have everything but the string.

[goatlady]

Actually high grade black silk thread would be better. Your suture material MUST be sterile and one would assume the 220 degree heat necessary to sterilize would surely melt any wax on that dental floss, so IF that is all you have use NONwaxed floss. Very, very thin monofiliment fish line is good also, just hard to tie knots in, but in OR surgery the silk and mono are the standards used. I'm assuming you have curved needles, both piercing and cutting and a needle driver is really almost necessary. Skin is really tough.

[1Admin]

Ya'll know I don't "plug" our company a lot, but for $12. you can get a set of 5 suture packs and not have to fool around playing Rambo with fishhooks and fishing line as suture materials. "Last ditch" methods are just that- "last ditch." We can do better if we prepare a little bit ahead of time.

http://www.jrhenterprises.com/product.sc?productId=2&categoryId=2

[MustangGal]

Ya'll know I don't "plug" our company a lot, but for $12. you can get a set of 5 suture packs and not have to fool around playing Rambo with fishhooks and fishing line as suture materials. "Last ditch" methods are just that- "last ditch." We can do better if we prepare a little bit ahead of time.

http://www.jrhenterprises.com/produc...2&categoryId=2

When I worked at the veterinary clinic, one of my jobs was invoicing and pricing supplies. That is a VERY GOOD price for suture material.

[Preppergirl]

Be careful what you do. In some states penalty of death is still on some statutes for practicing medicine without a lic.
L