How to Remove Surgical Staples [+ Free Cheat Sheet]

What are surgical staples? 

Surgical staples are specialized medical devices made of stainless steel or titanium, used to close wounds or incisions after surgery. They are often used in place of sutures for certain types of surgeries or wounds because they can be quicker to apply and may cause less tissue reaction.

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Types of skin staples 

There are different types of surgical skin staples. Common ones include: 

• Standard staples
• Absorbable staples
• Curved staples (for use on contour of rounded organs) 
• Wide staples (for areas affected by more movement/stress)

How to remove staples from skin 

Supplies needed 

• Sterile staple removal kit
• Gauze
• Normal saline
• Adhesive strips

Pre-procedure steps before removing staples

Before you start the procedure, perform hand hygiene, provide privacy, and explain the procedure to your client. Assess client&#;s pain level, and raise the bed to an appropriate height, as well as assist the client into proper position. 

Before you start removing the staples from the skin, assess the incision site for signs of infection (warmth, redness, swelling, discharge, drainage). Also assess the wound for dehiscence. If signs of infection or dehiscence are present, stop and contact the provider before proceeding. 

How to remove surgical staples 

1. Perform hand hygiene and put on gloves.
2. Remove wound dressing if present.
3. Assess the incision site.
4. If wound dressing was soiled, discard gloves, perform hand hygiene and put on new gloves before proceeding.
5. Open sterile staple removal kit.
6. Cleanse the incision site using gauze and normal saline.
7. Place the bottom of the staple remover under the center of the first staple.
8. Keep staple remover stable against skin and compress the handle. The staple ends will pull up and out of the incision.
9. Lift the staple out of the skin. Release pressure on handle to release staple into appropriate disposal unit.
10. Repeat removal of staples, in order, until complete (or as directed).
11. Apply adhesive strips if needed.
12. Apply dressing if ordered.
13. Dispose of supplies, remove gloves, and perform hand hygiene.
14. Assess client&#;s comfort.
15. Provide aftercare instructions.
16. Document the procedure.

Tip: Don&#;t lift the staple remover while squeezing the handle. Wait until the ends of the staple has popped up and out of the skin.

Surgeons use surgical staples to close an incision after surgery as an alternative option to sutures. They are quick and easy to use and typically have a low risk of infection.

During most surgical procedures, a surgeon makes an incision in a person&#;s skin. After surgery, they must close this incision to prevent infection and allow it to heal. Surgeons often use sutures or surgical staples to close an incision after surgery.

This article outlines what surgical staples are and lists their uses. It also details how long surgical staples remain in the body and how to care for them.

What are surgical staples? 

Surgical staples are usually metal staples that hold together tissues in the body. Surgeons often use them as an alternative to sutures to close a wound after surgery.

The metals that most commonly make up surgical staples include titanium and stainless steel. However, other materials that sometimes make up surgical staples can include:

• iron
• chromium
• nickel
• plastic

Surgical staples may be different shapes, including:

• straight
• curved
• circular

Uses of surgical staples

Surgeons use surgical staples to close wounds or incisions on a person&#;s skin after surgery.

Some advantages of using surgical staples over sutures include:

• being quick and easy to place
• having minimal tissue reaction
• having a low risk of infection
• providing strong wound closure

A surgeon may use surgical staples to join tissues within the body. Sometimes, these staples may be permanent and will not require removal.

How long do they stay in the body?

A medical professional usually removes surgical staples around 10&#;12 days after the procedure. However, this can vary.

Several factors can affect how long the staples remain in the body, including:

• the size of the incision
• the direction of the incision
• the type of surgery
• the severity of the incision or wound
• the area of the body where the staples are present
• how quickly the wound heals

In some cases, surgical staples can offer wound closure 10 times faster than sutures.

How to care for surgical staples

It is important for a person to always wash their hands before and after they touch their incision.

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The initial aim is to keep the incision and surgical staples dry. Avoiding activities that could cause dirt or sweat to enter their incision is also important.

A person can check with their doctor when they can bathe again. Until then, a sponge bath is advisable to avoid getting the incision wet. If surgical staples do get wet, an individual can pat rather than rub them dry.

A bandage will usually be in place to protect a person&#;s incision. It is important to leave this until a medical professional advises they can remove or change it. Usually, after the first 12 hours, a person may aim to change their dressing every 24 hours, or as advised by their doctor.

Once a person is able to get their incision wet, they can aim to clean it once a day by:

1. Washing and drying their hands.
2. Removing the bandage.
3. Washing the area gently with soap and warm water.
4. Using a wet cotton swab to loosen and remove any blood or crust.
5. Dabbing the area dry and applying a thin layer of antibiotic ointment.
6. Putting on a new bandage.
7. Washing their hands.

When washing the area, it is important to avoid products that contain hydrogen peroxide, as these can slow healing. A person may wish to cover their cut with a thin layer of petroleum jelly. They can then apply a nonstick bandage. Individuals should also avoid any activity that may cause the wound to reopen during healing.

Removal of surgical staples 

A person should not remove surgical staples at home &#; a medical professional will remove them using a staple remover tool in a hospital or medical setting.

In some cases, they may use local anesthetic such as lidocaine to help ease the pain of staple removal. Studies show that applying a lidocaine patch around the wound before removing surgical staples can effectively reduce pain.

Surgical staple procedure

Applying surgical staples often requires two medical professionals.

The first person will use a pair of forceps to align the edges of the skin. They will then ensure the proper closure of the wound.

The second person will then use a surgical stapler to apply the staples to the wound.

Risks of surgical staples

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a possible risk of the use of surgical staples. SSIs are infections that can occur after a surgical procedure in the part of the body where the surgery took place.

A meta-analysis compared the risk of SSIs associated with surgical staples and sutures after orthopedic surgery. It concluded that there was insufficient evidence of a difference in SSI risk when comparing surgical staples and sutures after orthopedic surgery.

Other potential risks of surgical staples include:

• the opening of the staple line
• malformation of the staples
• misfiring staples
• misapplied staples

Staple and stapler malfunctions or misuse can result in prolonged surgical procedures or additional surgical interventions. In cases with deep internal staples to realign internal tissues, these can lead to other complications, such as:

• bleeding
• sepsis
• tearing of internal tissues and organs

These complications may also be life threatening.

Some people may have concerns regarding staples and scarring. However, while scarring depends on factors such as the individual and type of wound, staples are sometimes preferable as they can remove tension from the skin edge.

Additionally, staples can apply suitable pressure to manage bleeding. While staples can result in marks on the skin, the risks are typically low if a surgeon removes them within 10&#;12 days.

Summary

Surgical staples are an alternative to sutures to close incisions after surgery. A medical professional applies these staples using a surgical stapler. They usually remain in the body for up to 10&#;12 days, but this can vary due to several factors.

A person should not remove their staples at home. A medical professional should always remove surgical staples using a staple remover tool in a hospital or clinical setting.

Complications associated with surgical staples include the risk of surgical site infections (SSIs). However, studies show that surgical staples present the same risk of SSIs as traditional sutures. Other risks associated with surgical staples include the opening of the staple line, malformation of the staples, and stapler malfunctions or misuse.

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