Vessel Loop Closure

for cases with excessive swelling

(continued)

Technique

The simplest technique is to lay the vessel loop across the wound, place a staple at each skin edge over the vessel loop. In the diagram below, there is an open wound:

Place the vessel loop transversely across the end of the wound, centering the vessel loop on the wound, and apply a staple at the skin edge so that it captures the vessel loop:

Take the free ends of the vessel loop and cross the wound, moving down the wound about a centimeter or so:

Place a second set of staples at the skin edges:

Continue criss-crossing the wound, somewhat in the manner of a shoelace, until you either run out of wound or vessel loop. If needed, start a second vessel loop.

Take up some tension in the vessel loops and tie the ends the same was as a shoelace.  You can untie and snug up the vessel loops at each dressing change. 

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