Which statement best describes the role of tissue capture in needle passage during suturing?

Which statement best describes the role of tissue capture in needle passage during suturing?

• A. Capturing tissue with an appropriate bite size and stable edge reduces tearing.
• B. Capturing tissue with a very large bite every time.
• C. Tension is irrelevant to needle passage.
• D. Tissue capture should be avoided.

Answer: (B)

Capturing tissue with an appropriate bite size and a stable edge sets the stage for safe, effective suturing. When you take just enough tissue to hold with the needle—neither too little nor too much—you reduce the risk of tearing as the needle passes and as the suture is tightened. A stable edge means you aren’t grabbing tissue that is loose or mangled; the tissue grips the suture predictably, so the closure sits neatly and healing is more reliable. This balance also protects the tissue’s blood supply, which is crucial for healing and reduces the chance of necrosis or compromised edges. Taking a very large bite every time increases trauma to the tissue, makes it harder to approximate the edges precisely, and raises the risk of tearing, ischemia, or baggy closures that don’t hold well. Tension does matter in suturing; if the tissue is under excessive tension, edges can be strangulated or the suture can cut through tissue. So the goal is to capture with an appropriate bite and a stable edge while applying balanced tension. Avoiding tissue capture altogether or insisting on uniformly oversized bites undermines secure, healthy wound closure.

Capturing tissue with an appropriate bite size and a stable edge sets the stage for safe, effective suturing. When you take just enough tissue to hold with the needle—neither too little nor too much—you reduce the risk of tearing as the needle passes and as the suture is tightened. A stable edge means you aren’t grabbing tissue that is loose or mangled; the tissue grips the suture predictably, so the closure sits neatly and healing is more reliable. This balance also protects the tissue’s blood supply, which is crucial for healing and reduces the chance of necrosis or compromised edges.

Taking a very large bite every time increases trauma to the tissue, makes it harder to approximate the edges precisely, and raises the risk of tearing, ischemia, or baggy closures that don’t hold well. Tension does matter in suturing; if the tissue is under excessive tension, edges can be strangulated or the suture can cut through tissue. So the goal is to capture with an appropriate bite and a stable edge while applying balanced tension. Avoiding tissue capture altogether or insisting on uniformly oversized bites undermines secure, healthy wound closure.