American College of Surgeons Advocates Blunt Needles for Fascial Closures

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American College of Surgeons Advocates Blunt Needles for Fascial Closures

PA PSRS Patient Saf Advis 2006 Mar;3(1):3.

The American College of Surgeons has issued a statement supporting the universal adoption of blunt needles as the first choice for fascial suturing.¹ The statement cites evidence that puncture wounds of personnel occur in 1-15% of operations,² with 59% of all needlestick injuries occurring during the suturing of the fascia during closure.

Blunt suture needles have been estimated to decrease injuries by 30%.³ Puncture wounds of the surgeon during an operation present a risk of transmitting blood-borne pathogens either from the patient to the surgeon or from the surgeon to the patent. Blunt needles can be used for suturing fascia, muscle, fat, and organ tissue, but they are not appropriate for vessels or skin.

Reports of needlestick injuries to patients and healthcare workers have been submitted to PA-PSRS, including injury to the surgeon or resident during closure of a fascia incision.

Notes

Committee on Perioperative Care. Statement on blunt suture needles. Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons. 2005 (Nov); 90(11):24.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Evaluation of blunt suture needles in preventing percutaneous injuries among health-care workers during gynecologic surgical procedures--New York City, March 1993-June 1994. MMWR. 1997 Jan 17;46(2):25-9.
Jagger J, Bentley M, Tereskerz P. A study of patterns and prevention of blood exposures in OR personnel. AORN J. 1998 (May);67(5):979-87.

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American College of Surgeons Advocates Blunt Needles for Fascial Closures
Notes

	THE PENNSYLVANIA PATIENT SAFETY AUTHORITY AND ITS CONTRACTORS
	The Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority is an independent state agency created by Act 13 of 2002, the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (“Mcare”) Act. Consistent with Act 13, ECRI Institute, as contractor for the Authority, is issuing this publication to advise medical facilities of immediate changes that can be instituted to reduce Serious Events and Incidents. For more information about the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, see the Authority’s Web site at www.patientsafetyauthority.org .
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	The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) is an independent, nonprofit organization dedicated solely to medication error prevention and safe medication use. ISMP provides recommendations for the safe use of medications to the healthcare community including healthcare professionals, government agencies, accrediting organizations, and consumers. ISMP’s efforts are built on a nonpunitive approach and systems-based solutions.