How to construct a suture practice device:
1] obtain some surgical tubing..
http://www.leisurepro.com/prod/AQU2012. ... ku=AQU2012
2] on a wood block (1"x 4" or 2"x 4") about 8"-10" long. place four dowels or nails in a narrow rectangle about 3/4" x 7"-9"
3] secure surgical tubing around or insert open ends on the dowels or nails such that the tubing is fairly taught.
4] you should have 2 parallel surgical tubes with a gap of about 3/4"....this represents a large gaping wound.
5] now, you can practice repeatedly suturing with sewing needle, thread, dental floss, monofilament, or packaged suture....

Questions?

Semper Veritas

Thanks, Ron, I hope/pray that your wife is better very soon

Lots of uses for surgical tubing:
http://www.ehow.com/list_6406549_uses-s ... ubing.html
Uses of Surgical Tubing By B.T. Alo,

1. Surgical tubing is made from latex and comes in a variety of diameters and thicknesses. While surgical tubing is designed for use in medical applications, its flexibility, gripping power and elasticity has made it popular in other applications as well. From water sports to children's toys, surgical tubing is used for many things outside the hospital.
Medical
2. The medicinal uses of surgical tubing, include catheters, feeding or draining tubes, irrigation during surgical procedures and tourniquets. Surgical tubing is also used in conjunction with surgical equipment, like fluid suction tools, or in drips. Surgical tubing needs to be able to withstand a variety of conditions and is one of the most durable and versatile kinds of tubings, which is why it is so popular outside of the medical field as well.
Fishing
3. Surgical tubing is used to make homemade lures, as well as for tying and securing equipment on the boat. Because of its flexibility, surgical tubing replicates the swimming action of a fish when it is submerged; this also makes it particularly well-suited for making rubber eel lures. Usually a fishing jig head is attached to the end of the surgical tubing for a homemade lure.
Scuba Diving
4. Surgical tubing is in common supply at most scuba diving equipment stores. It is used primarily in the place of rope, as its elasticity and grip, coupled with its strong fastening that releases quickly, make it perfect for use in water. Surgical tubing is used to tie on extra equipment like a spare pair of goggles, a compass, pressure reader or any number of other loose items attached to scuba gear for use when diving.
Homemade Toys
5. Surgical tubing is popularly used to make rubber band-powered toys---while rubber bands stretch, become brittle and eventually break, surgical tubing has all of the elasticity and far less of the fragility. Rubber band-powered toy boats and cars commonly utilize surgical tubing instead. Toy catapults also utilize surgical tubing. One of the most common uses of surgical tubing in kids toys is for making sling shots. The most important aspect of the surgical tubing in this application is that it can be stretched quite extensively, yet still retain its original length when limp.


Read more: Uses of Surgical Tubing | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/list_6406549_uses-s ... z0ti30FETf

I did not need practice, as I needed sutures to sew up one of my dogs wound due to a dog fight by accident. I had no time to think But here are a few pointers:

to do suturing
You will need
1. suture kit that has needles, the the thread, the suture scissors
2. alcohol
3. peroxide
4. guaze pads, bandaids, first aid tape, and ace bandage for really big wounds to cover after you gauze it
5. a steady HAND LOL
6. gloves
7. cotton balls for the alcohol and peroxide to clean the wounds

After you have the above it will come natural as it did to me in a natural situation that I had no time to think about because my dog had a hole in her chest and I had no time to think about what i was going to do. All i did was get the suture kit out, which i have handy in case anything like that happens and of course when johnny split his finger open. Ive done the suturing prob 2 times before I sutured johnnys finger up. Im not a pro, but He does not have a big scar as if he were to go to a hospital to have it done. Im really surprised it didnt scar as bad as I thought, and IT healed up NICELY..

these thoughts of mine here arent to make you look bad, just my opinions, and the post before this is a great post on medical stuff. But like i said i didnt need practice to know common sense on suturing. Its really basic instinct, some have it and some dont n need the practice, so your post is something definitely that a person with no knowledge should try to do first.

angelz wrote:I did not need practice, as I needed sutures to sew up one of my dogs wound due to a dog fight by accident. I had no time to think But here are a few pointers:

to do suturing
You will need
1. suture kit that has needles, the the thread, the suture scissors
2. alcohol
3. peroxide
4. guaze pads, bandaids, first aid tape, and ace bandage for really big wounds to cover after you gauze it
5. a steady HAND LOL
6. gloves
7. cotton balls for the alcohol and peroxide to clean the wounds

After you have the above it will come natural as it did to me in a natural situation that I had no time to think about because my dog had a hole in her chest and I had no time to think about what i was going to do. All i did was get the suture kit out, which i have handy in case anything like that happens and of course when johnny split his finger open. Ive done the suturing prob 2 times before I sutured johnnys finger up. Im not a pro, but He does not have a big scar as if he were to go to a hospital to have it done. Im really surprised it didnt scar as bad as I thought, and IT healed up NICELY..

these thoughts of mine here arent to make you look bad, just my opinions, and the post before this is a great post on medical stuff. But like i said i didnt need practice to know common sense on suturing. Its really basic instinct, some have it and some dont n need the practice, so your post is something definitely that a person with no knowledge should try to do first.

Don't forget the multi tool that was in just about every picture.

the multi tool is a good tool for just about everything , you can use the pliers part for holding the needle or thread while you sew up a finger for example used the pliers part in the multi for holding the needle while i sewed up johnny's finger, to me it was useful. Others may not agree but yes the multi is a awesome tool. I wish i had one myself, but the one I was using was johnny's that he carries with him 24/7

angelz wrote:I did not need practice, as I needed sutures to sew up one of my dogs wound due to a dog fight by accident. I had no time to think But here are a few pointers:

to do suturing
You will need
1. suture kit that has needles, the the thread, the suture scissors

You'll probably be better off "building your own"... you need needle holders for one thing (and no - needle holders are NOT the same as hemostats), and the world's supply of prepackaged suture with atraumatic needles will eventually run out, so you'll need separate surgical needles (the old-fashioned kind) and bulk suture like a 000 nylon fishline for the long term, plus a means to sterilize the set...

2. alcohol

You'll be better off with Betadine.

3. peroxide

The idea of wound cleansing it to "flush out" the wound. Two liters of boiled and cooled water will work better.

4. gauze pads, bandaids, first aid tape, and ace bandage for really big wounds to cover after you gauze it

Remember, a dressing goes against the wound, a bandage holds the dressing in place. Use Telfa (with Bacitracin) as a dressing, gauze as a bandage.

5. a steady HAND LOL
6. gloves

Or clean hands if surgical gloves aren't available

7. cotton balls for the alcohol and peroxide to clean the wounds

You're probably better off using sterile gauze 2x2s or 4x4s. If cotton fibers get into the wound you'll have a problem with healing.

After you have the above it will come natural as it did to me in a natural situation that I had no time to think about because my dog had a hole in her chest and I had no time to think about what i was going to do. All i did was get the suture kit out, which i have handy in case anything like that happens and of course when johnny split his finger open. Ive done the suturing prob 2 times before I sutured johnnys finger up. Im not a pro, but He does not have a big scar as if he were to go to a hospital to have it done. Im really surprised it didnt scar as bad as I thought, and IT healed up NICELY..

Actually, I seriously doubt that suturing comes naturally to anyone but a board-certified surgeon. Here's the book that the doctors in a downtown Chicago hospital gave me to learn with some 50+ years ago - now as an updated and free download:
http://www.pilonidal.org/pdfs/wound_closure.pdf .

The real trick in suturing, which comes from experience, is to know when to suture and when not to. For most people, an assortment of Steri-Strips is a much better alternative.

these thoughts of mine here arent to make you look bad, just my opinions, and the post before this is a great post on medical stuff. But like i said i didnt need practice to know common sense on suturing. Its really basic instinct, some have it and some dont n need the practice, so your post is something definitely that a person with no knowledge should try to do first.

But if you want to practice, order a fresh ham (not smoked) from your local butcher. Make an incision about 4" long in the skin, then suture it closed. Repeat several times until you're both competent and confident. Then remove the sutures and bake the ham and serve with red cabbage and sweet potatoes.

TYVM Jonas, this is why we pool our expertise!

Semper Veritas

Fishing line is what I've used. You will not find 000 fishing line in a sporting goods store. What you want is 7X tippet material for fly fishing. It comes in small spools so you can keep the unused ones in a dark place so the UV doesn't break it down, Del Rio brand is what I use and it's about $2.75 per spool.

The closest thing to a human to practice on is a dead pig. The best part is after you practice you can eat the pig