practicing needle driver

[logistic]

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I have been using a hemostat in lieu of a needle driver to practice suturing. This isn't working well. Some searching for drivers online yields different types (castro, olsen-heger, and mayo-heger) and different sizes (5 cm, 5.5, 6). Can anyone recommend the type and size for me? I'm not sure if driver size matters or if glove size can be used to suggest driver size (my glove size is 7 1/2). Thanks.

 

[smq123]

I have been using a hemostat in lieu of a needle driver to practice suturing. This isn't working well. Some searching for drivers online yields different types (castro, olsen-heger, and mayo-heger) and different sizes (5 cm, 5.5, 6). Can anyone recommend the type and size for me? I'm not sure if driver size matters or if glove size can be used to suggest driver size (my glove size is 7 1/2). Thanks.

Don't practice with the Castro, since you probably won't use one on a third-year general surgery rotation. The Mayo-Hegar is probably best, although I guess the Olsen-Hegar would be okay too.

What problem are you having when you practice suturing, and what kind of hemostat are you using to practice with? If it has curved tips, then you will have more trouble than usual in aiming the suture needle at a particular spot. It won't stabilize the needle as well.

You also might not be loading the suture needle in the correct spot - and using a hemostat might make it harder on you.

But you need to more specific about what problems you're having when you try to suture.

 

[logistic]

What problem are you having when you practice suturing, and what kind of hemostat are you using to practice with? It won't stabilize the needle as well. But you need to more specific about what problems you're having when you try to suture.[/quote]
Stabilization is the issue. When completing a throw, slight tension will spin the needle within the serrated tips of the hemostat. The hemostat has straight tips.

 

[Blade28]

You definitely need a needle driver instead of a straight hemostat - the jaws just aren't properly designed for firmly grasping a needle.

IIRC, places like eBay have cheap, clean instruments for sale - have you tried looking there?

 

[smq123]

IIRC, places like eBay have cheap, clean instruments for sale - have you tried looking there?

Also Amazon.com sells needle drivers for $6. Apparently some piercing websites also sell needle drivers for cheap - don't ask why.

 

[Blade28]

Also Amazon.com sells needle drivers for $6.

Ah yes, forget them as well! 🙂

 

[Castro Viejo]

IIRC, places like eBay have cheap, clean instruments for sale - have you tried looking there?

Or hows about just walking on over to Central Sterile and, uh, borrowing one? 😀

 

[Blade28]

Or hows about just walking on over to Central Sterile and, uh, borrowing one? 😀

Yeah I was trying to be ethical. 🙂

 

[Castro Viejo]

Yeah I was trying to be ethical. 🙂

Shoot... I think I've swiped enough to have my own major laparotomy pan.

 

[sponch]

Shoot... I think I've swiped enough to have my own major laparotomy pan.

you mean u never borrowed an entire major tray? 😉

 

[Castro Viejo]

you mean u never borrowed an entire major tray? 😉

Acutally I've got one sitting in the office... Also with a major laparoscopy pan. 😀 I'd like to get my hands on a vascular pan... Maybe tomorrow.

Oh, and I have a Bair Hugger for heat too.

Central Sterile is like a candy store! 🙂

 

[Sweet Tea]

Acutally I've got one sitting in the office... Also with a major laparoscopy pan. 😀 I'd like to get my hands on a vascular pan... Maybe tomorrow.

Oh, and I have a Bair Hugger for heat too.

Central Sterile is like a candy store! 🙂

I want my own Bair Hugger so bad!

 

[Castro Viejo]

I want my own Bair Hugger so bad!

It's certainly worth the $hit you get from Anesthesia and the OR for taking it. Like sleeping with an electric blanket... Sweet.

 

[Sweet Tea]

It's certainly worth the $hit you get from Anesthesia and the OR for taking it. Like sleeping with an electric blanket... Sweet.

Actually, depending on which call room I'm in for the night I could use either a Bair Hugger or an Arctic Sun. Thermoregulation in the call rooms isn't so great.

 

[njbmd]

I want my own Bair Hugger so bad!

I spend many a night in my office in the ICU under the "French fry lights" basking in their warm red glow. I just roll them out of the corner and into my office. The Bair Huggers are nice but I just "dig" that red light. I am perpetually cold in the hospital unless I am operating (and enjoying the warmth of the patient's Bair Hugger. 😉😀

 

[SocialistMD]

There was a resident here a few years ago who managed to sneak a ROHO mattress into his call room. He said it was better than sleeping at home.

 

[Sweet Tea]

I spend many a night in my office in the ICU under the "French fry lights" basking in their warm red glow. I just roll them out of the corner and into my office. The Bair Huggers are nice but I just "dig" that red light. I am perpetually cold in the hospital unless I am operating (and enjoying the warmth of the patient's Bair Hugger. 😉😀

I often wear a lightweight fleece over my scrubs and under my white coat (which is why I purposely ordered coats 2 sizes too big). I get made fun of for my layers all the time, but at least I stay warm!

 

[Blade28]

Actually, depending on which call room I'm in for the night I could use either a Bair Hugger or an Arctic Sun. Thermoregulation in the call rooms isn't so great.

You mean you actually get to see the inside of the call room during your calls?

🙁

On most of our rotations, the call room just serves as a coatroom and bagroom.

 

[Castro Viejo]

The Peds lights are nice. I'm a little scared of them. I just know they must have some un-Godly amount of UV radiation that someone's not telling me about...

 

[BlackSails]

Yeah I was trying to be ethical. 🙂

Hospital supplies are for helping patients. By getting better with a needle driver, you are becoming a better doctor, and thus helping patients. Therefore, it is ethical to take supplies for practice. 😀

 

[Castro Viejo]

Hospital supplies are for helping patients. By getting better with a needle driver, you are becoming a better doctor, and thus helping patients. Therefore, it is ethical to take supplies for practice. 😀

Word up! 👍

 

[tms]

central supply usually has extras that have been "lost" from a larger pan or they had "old" instruments that you can have. some of these are not in the best shape - but sometimes you can find the diamond in the rough.