Naked Science Forum
Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 27/09/2016 13:53:02
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Luke Pullar asked the Naked Scientists:
Why shouldn't a person use superglue as a suture? What is the difference between medical grade and the stuff you get in a tube at the supermarket?
What do you think?
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There is probably little difference but you would be in grave danger of a medical negligence suite.
Considering the high cost of a medical procedure that employed the suturing blood vessels any attempt at money saving would be misguided as those who used industrial grade silicone for breast implants found out
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It has been widely used as an emergency suture by the military
J Int Oral Health. 2013 Oct; 5(5): 95–100.
Published online 2013 Oct 26.
PMCID: PMC3845291
Comparison between Silk Sutures and Cyanoacrylate Adhesive in Human Mucosa- A Clinical and Histological Study
is a good summary of one such use in nonemergency surgery, where the cyanoacrylate seems to outperform conventional stitching.
It's not a good idea to attempt elective vascular surgery on your kitchen table but where the alternative is bleeding to death, any suture is probably better than none, and if it's just a question of closing a flesh wound en route to a hospital, supermarket cyanoacrylate is a lot easier to find and use than the appropriate gauge and curvature of a loaded surgical needle. If you did nothing, you would certainly be liable for negligence.
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Yes, super glue be used to suture. Parfix ca glue is the right super glue and these ca glues are applied on mutltiple industrial parts, wire tacking, general purposes, wicking grade, rubber, plastic parts etc.