[Surgery of superficial skin injuries (I of III). Nursing approach]

Among the procedures in minor surgery, to suture wounds is a technique which nursing professional frequently perform as part of their normal work load, especially those nurses who work in Primary Health Care Centers and Emergency Wards. This article in the first in a series of three articles which enables the reader to review his/her knowledge about how to repair superficial skin lesions. After citing the legal aspects, the authors shall review each step in this procedure. We will check to see if the indication for suture is correct, evaluating a wound adequately. Afterwards, we review the procedure to clean the wound and to apply an anti-tetanus prophylaxis. We will mention how to adequately select the technique, the suture material and the instrument to be used. We will show the manner to use to avoid complications derived from an inadequate technique and we will continue with the follow up procedure for cicatrisation after first treatment, which includes informing the patient and a precocious treatment of complications, assuring the patient's welfare and the defense of his/her rights at all times; all of which will make possible an intervention which guarantees quality and is satisfactory to both the patient and the nursing professional who employs it.