Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

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Prepare for the ABSA General Surgery Test with our comprehensive quiz on sutures and wound repair. Dive into multiple choice questions and detailed explanations to enhance your readiness for the exam. Get set for success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

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What should be done with sutures that show signs of excessive tension during the healing process?

  1. Monitor them closely.

  2. Remove them immediately.

  3. Adjust or redo the sutures.

  4. Keep the area dry.

The correct answer is: Adjust or redo the sutures.

When sutures show signs of excessive tension during the healing process, the most appropriate action is to adjust or redo the sutures. Excessive tension can compromise wound healing and increase the risk of complications such as dehiscence (wound opening) or tissue necrosis. By adjusting or redoing the sutures, the clinician can relieve the pressure exerted on the wound edges, allowing for better alignment and approximation of the tissue, which is crucial for optimal healing. This approach not only helps reduce the risk of complications but also fosters a more favorable environment for tissue repair. Monitoring the sutures closely is essential in the healing process, but it doesn't address the problem of excessive tension directly. Keeping the area dry is important for preventing infection, but it doesn't alleviate the underlying issue. Similarly, immediate removal of the sutures might not be warranted if they can be adjusted; it could lead to further complications or delayed healing.