Hey Everyone!
I have finally started to prep for my experiment on testing the difference in burst pressure on tissues sutured with V-loc, Stratafix, and regular sutures. For the methodology, I will be taking segments of pig uterus of approximately 5 cm in length, closing both ends with running sutures, and inserting a catheter in the mid-section of the segment to infuse/inflate the pipe-like structure with fluid. The pressure will be measured by the arterial line, which is connected to the catheter (see previous blog post for more details on the A-line).
I am planning to do 10-15 trials each per type of suture. Next week I will begin running tests, but as for this week, I will be preparing the segments to be tested.
To go in a bit more detail, a running stitch is one of the most basic stitches in surgery. It isn’t as pristine in appearance when compared to the other sutures (in which the suture can be hidden and only the knots can be seen on both ends). In the procedures I have seen thus far, the incisions have all been closed with the intention of minimizing damage to the skin’s appearance: in other words, so that sutures are not visible when looking at the wound. This is called a subcuticular suture.
To see how a running stitch is done as compared to a subcuticular suture, click on the highlighted links!
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| Pig Uterus! D’: |
Working with pig uterus wasn’t as gross as I had expected, but the smell is slightly strong (especially since (as of now) I am working in the clinic’s Office). Hopefully by next week, there will be a room that I can use to run my experiments without the smell affecting everyone. If anyone is curious, pig uterus reminds me a lot of pig intestine (or rather, what I would imagine intestine to look like??) Dr. Truong even agreed with me—if the packaging had not labelled it as ‘Pig Uterus’, I’m not sure I would have known the difference.
This week when I met with Dr. Truong, I was allowed to enter the physician's dining hall, which is only open to physicians and studying med students! Eating here was super intimidating, especially as I sat next to so many doctors and professionals.
Before signing off, Happy Easter everyone! Here’s a great surgical video (warning: graphic content) to celebrate the weekend. See you guys next week!
Vanessa
Nice stuff, Vanessa!
ReplyDeleteI find the process of stitching things up really, really awesome and fascinating. I think it's a great opportunity for you to embrace the medical field just a little bit more. :)
Thank you for sharing the different types of stitches. Do you predict which will come more easily to you, and which may be more difficult to measure the burst pressure?
That pig uterus definitely looks like an intestine - I remember from Nish's anatomy class!
Good luck, and happy Easter!
(Now I've got that song "Stitches" stuck in my head ;) )
Oh, and HOW COOL to be able to eat in the physician's dining hall, I would have been so excited and eager to ask questions/see what the atmosphere is like (but I definitely would have felt out of my comfort zone). Did you meet/talk to any of the med students or doctors?
DeleteWhat effective visuals - I have to admit that my stomach turned a bit! ;)
ReplyDeleteIs the dining hall a cafeteria or does it serve other purposes as well? What an honor that you were able to enter!
That video was really stomach turning, glad I hadn't eaten before I watched it. How is the sanitation in the dining hall? Do they have strict rules you have to obey before you can enter?
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