Stitch removal

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Specializes in Psych, OB-GYN.

My little brother had a bike accident yesterday and had 6 stitches in his chin. They are scheduled to fly to see me on Friday and his Dr really wanted the stitches to stay in an entire week since it was pretty deep. Small town MD and he knows I'm a nurse - he said it was no biggie for me to remove them. :eek::eek::eek: Now, I was once able to not only stitch up, but also remove (army medic) but that was 8 years ago and the thought of touching them now makes my tummy woozy. My own child got stitches a few months ago and I almost puked during the procedure.

Not really a purpose of this post - just wanted to share somewhere. Thinking I may convince my parents to run to a Dr here - I don't know if I can do that. :barf02:

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wow, curious what area of nursing you work in if sutures make you woozy. If that happened to my family member, i would insist on taking them out myself. Is it possible to have a family member remove them while you "supervise"? if not comfortable with the procedure, a quick you tube video should refresh your memory.

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Specializes in ms, neuro, critical care, rehab.

Some hospital facilities allow RN to remove sutures or staples some do not it depends on policy!!!! If you have done it in he past????? While I understand staples take a dedicated and sterile remover acquired only in hosp or doc office setting, if they are sutures general assessment skills apply. What does the wound look like. Is it pink, red? Are edges approximated - meaning held together properly. Has there been drainage from the wound - what type serosanguiness, puss or clear fluid? The proper way to remove stitches takes a wound cleaner, preferably betadine unless allergic, Alcohol or hibiclens. Paint the wound with a cleanser, allow a few seconds to minutes to activate and kill microbes. Cut the suture close to the skin and pull. What should not happen is that the exterior or exposed part of the suture should never be pulled under the skin. It has been exposed to the environment has collected bacteria and WILL deposit that bacteria under that skin allowing an infection to set in an already healed wound. Sutures should only be removed if edges are healed and no infection is present unless a doc determines the wound needs to heal by 2nd or 3rd intention which means from the inside out. Leaving the wound to drain any infection but will leave a not so nice scar. This means it is imperative wound and stitches stay clean!!!

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Dear 'Worked' - - I don't think a how-to was needed here, LOL, some people just can't do anything to people they know and love!!! Punky just needs some semi-tough love!!!

Punky - take some deep breaths, and you'll be fine. I hope. LOL!!!!!

Best wishes! Have them bring a note from the MD, and, if possible, a suture removal kit.

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Specializes in Psych, OB-GYN.
wow, curious what area of nursing you work in if sutures make you woozy. If that happened to my family member, i would insist on taking them out myself. Is it possible to have a family member remove them while you "supervise"? if not comfortable with the procedure, a quick you tube video should refresh your memory.

Postpartum/Nursery. Sutures don't bother me on my pt - but they do on my own family, or me. My husband could probably take them out if I can't do it - he removed our son's.

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Specializes in Psych, OB-GYN.
Dear 'Worked' - - I don't think a how-to was needed here, LOL, some people just can't do anything to people they know and love!!! Punky just needs some semi-tough love!!!

Punky - take some deep breaths, and you'll be fine. I hope. LOL!!!!!

Best wishes! Have them bring a note from the MD, and, if possible, a suture removal kit.

Lol, thanks. I just don't like the thought of having to treat him - hubby says I'm a great nurse, until it comes to my own family - I freeze up. Vomit, blood, you name it - not one of my own. My mom is bringing a removal kit, I didn't think about a note too.

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Specializes in Critical Care, Nsg QA.

Another thought would be to go to a "doc in the box" or if available, a nurse practitioner in a minute clinic. Personally, I like to take 'em out!

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Specializes in Community, OB, Nursery.

I used to work in a community health center and we took them out all the time! I LOVED doing it. A couple years ago when I accidentally stabbed myself (long story) I went to the ED to get stitches but took them out myself with a pair of scissors I sterilized at home. No way I was going to pay a co-pay for a doc to take out staples on a wound I knew wasn't infected. I would probably not do it for family members but for myself, heck yeah.

Probably not best practice, but I am a very bad patient.

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.

i've removed the stitches from two of our cats post-spay, my own sutures after my wisdom teeth were surgically removed, (a really dumb stupid idea because they should have stayed in longer) from my husband's foot after he took the garbage out to the cans in his bare feet and stepped on a tin can lid.

i'd do any of them again except my husband's foot. men can be such wimps sometimes!:D:eek:

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I have one of those too sharpeimom, a wimpy husband I mean. :D

Removing sutures/staples is one of my favourite things to do, whether it's patients, family members or pets. I think I could quite happily do it all day long!

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Good, I am not weird!!:D I love removing stitches..

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Specializes in ortho, hospice volunteer, psych,.
good, i am not weird!!:D i love removing stitches..

certainly not!:eek: if that makes us weird, count me in!:D and i'm weird:uhoh3:!!

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