Practicing on Pig Feet

[tega]

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i am finding this somewhat difficult because the skin is extremely tough.....and i am ruining all my sutures.

are there other materials that approximate human tissue...that i can practice on.....?
my cousins cat is being a brat…..so I cant use her... 😀

 

[adamdowannabe]

chicken legs seem to work better, more pliable. You just have to take out your suture and cook your model for dinner, and don't forget about microbe contamination of your work area.

 

[doc05]

what suture are you using?

don't worry, you can always practice on patients in the ER.

 

[tega]

right now....using a gut 2-0....

 

[imtiaz]

at home if im just practicing i use a pillow with no pillowcase. mine has stripes on it so i use those as markings to space my stitches when i practice.

ive heard that banana peel is good to use for subcuticular, havent tried it yet though.

 

[mddo2b]

i am finding this somewhat difficult because the skin is extremely tough.....and i am ruining all my sutures.

are there other materials that approximate human tissue...that i can practice on.....?
my cousins cat is being a brat…..so I cant use her... 😀

I always use my medical students

 

[Ergo]

Ive heard that banannas are good because the tissue is more fragile, forcing you to develop a gentler technique.

 

[zbarnes]

For pigs feet you definitely need a sharp cutting needle and silk is manipulated a little bit easier than chromic. Bananas are a pain in the ass, pigs feet are better.

 

[doc05]

I concur -- don't use gut (plain or chromic) until you're comfortable with silk. Also be sure you're using a cutting needle, and maybe even try 1-0 until you're comfortable before moving down to 2-0. After silk, I suggest you try vicryl. It's easier to work with than gut.

 

[Winged Scapula]

what suture are you using?

don't worry, you can always practice on patients in the ER.

We let our students practice on the veterans at the VA! 😉

 

[Winged Scapula]

I used chicken legs but also heard suggested:

oranges
pigs feet
sponges with 1 scrubby side and one spongy side
tubular pasta (for the advanced anastomoses)

 

[surfsurg]

any thoughts on essential surgical skills by sherris and kern for learning suturing and knot tying?

 

[Winged Scapula]

Not familiar with it, bt frankly you don't need a book, just someone to show you how and practice. However, Ethicon has a free manual on-line and I hear its pretty good.

 

[surfsurg]

thanks kimberly.