2 tissue forceps, one with teeth and one without.
1 bull-dog forceps.
3 artery forceps.
6 needles, 3 full and 3 half-curved.
1 dressing forceps.
1 needle holder.
Suture material of catgut and silkworm gut should be ready in sterile containers. The catgut should be the twenty-day chromicized, No. 3 and 4. Even then the strands are quickly absorbed when the lochial secretions flow over them.
Silkworm gut is better, but hard to remove from the vagina; hence it is customary to use catgut inside the vagina and silkworm gut for the sutures outside.
The nurse renews the supplies of gauze and cotton sponges. Hot solutions are prepared, and the patient brought into a position on table or across the bed so that the best light may be had. The legs may be held by the husband or nurse, or both. If help is inadequate, a sheet sling can be utilized. This is made by twisting the sheet from corner to corner and passing it rope-like over the shoulders, and back of the neck. Then each end is tied above the patient’s knee on either side as the legs are flexed in an exaggerated lithotomy position.
The sutures are now introduced and tied loosely from below upward and from within outward. If tied too tightly, they will cut through. The success of the operation depends on two things: the care with which the levator ani, if torn, is found and restored; and the scrupulous cleanliness obtained by the nurse in her after-care. If the stitches become sore, a few drops of sterile glycerine should be applied with an applicator.