Sutures play a fundamental role in managing tissues during operations. While many associate sutures primarily with closing wounds, certain types serve distinct purposes. One specialized tool is the stay suture, which performs a unique function different from typical wound closure stitches.
What Defines a Stay Suture
A stay suture is a temporary stitch placed during surgery to hold, retract, or manipulate tissues, rather than to permanently close a wound. Its primary purpose is to provide controlled tension and exposure of the surgical field. Unlike sutures used for approximating wound edges, a stay suture is typically placed through tissue layers, allowing traction to pull organs or structures out of the way or stabilize them during delicate maneuvers.
These sutures are generally made from non-absorbable materials, such as polypropylene or nylon, meaning they do not dissolve within the body. They are often larger in diameter than finer sutures used for skin closure. This larger size provides the necessary strength to withstand significant tensile forces and maintain their position throughout the procedure.
Why Surgeons Use Stay Sutures
Surgeons employ stay sutures for several practical reasons, all aimed at enhancing safety, precision, and efficiency during an operation. By holding tissues away from the surgical site, these sutures help maintain an open and clear view. This allows the surgeon to visualize deeper structures, perform complex tasks accurately, and prevent accidental injury to adjacent organs or vessels.
Stay sutures also offer stability for delicate manipulations, such as working on small or mobile structures like blood vessels or bowel sections. For instance, in abdominal surgery, they can gently retract organs like the bladder or intestines to expose underlying areas. In a tracheostomy, stay sutures can help stabilize the trachea, making the procedure safer and aiding rapid reintubation if needed. They provide a controllable point of traction, allowing the surgical team to apply steady, consistent force without the risk of clamps slipping.
Temporary Nature and Removal
Stay sutures are temporary, serving their purpose only for the duration of the surgical procedure. They are not intended for long-term tissue approximation or permanent healing. Once the surgeon has completed the necessary work and no longer requires the tissue to be held or retracted, the stay sutures are removed.
In most cases, these sutures are removed before the main surgical incision is closed. If, in rare circumstances, a stay suture is left externally, it would be removed shortly after the surgery, once the immediate need for retraction or stabilization has passed. This temporary application distinguishes them from other types of sutures that might be left in place for weeks or even permanently to support healing tissues.