The Patient

Introduction

The objectives of this section are to:
  • Consider the principles of the pre-operative, intraoperative and post-operative care of the surgical patient.
  • Review the principles of wound healing and gain an understanding of how various tissues heal and respond to foreign bodies including implantable biomaterials such as suture materials.
  • Review the currently available materials used as sutures, staples and other wound closure products. Considerations will also be given to suture selection and handling in regard to the tissue types and indications for which they are required in the management and closure of wounds.
  • Use this knowledge in the consideration of the proper and appropriate management and closure of wounds in various tissues.


further reading

The outcome of surgery does not only depend on the procedure itself, but is critically dependent on adequate pre-operative and post-operative care.