No touch technique

Why no touch techniques

Infectious risk of needles: Hep C, Hep B and HIV. ED has high risk population

Better to keep your hands away Used correctly, this technique is faster

Olson-Hegar Needle Driver & Suture Scissors: Mostly used by DVMs

Thumb Forceps

Three types: – With Teeth for tissue pick up– W/O Teeth for packing wounds and dressing

changes– With tying platform for delicate suture handling

and knot tying The first two types should not be used to handle

needles, they will damage them and make breakage likely

Teethed forceps with tying platform Teeth are used in the usual manner for

tissue control Tying platform can gently handle needle,

making it possible to load the needle driver without touching it

Adson’s with teeth and platform

Teeth and Tying Platform

No touch closure following exploration of .177 pellet wound in cat scalp

Tying with platform forceps

Instrument tie using forceps

Cutting suture using Olson-Hegar

Summary

Instruments available that allow safer “no touch” needle technique

Combined needle driver and suture scissors speeds procedure

Adson’s with tying platform particularly useful in tying and cutting small suture: 6-0 or less