ABSA SURGICAL FIRST ASSISTANT
COMPREHENSIVE 2026 REVISION NOTES AND
STRUCTURED SURGICAL ASSISTING
OVERVIEW GUIDE
◉ What are the two different types of suture material? Answer:
Monofilament
Multifilament
◉ Monofilament. Answer: Single strand of suture material
Minimal tissue trauma
Smooth tying but need more knots needed
Resists harboring organisms
Nylon, monocryl, prolene, PDS
◉ Multifilament (braided). Answer: Fibers are braided or twisted
together
More tissue resistance
Easier to handle
Fewer knots needed
Vicryl (braided), silk (braided), chromic (twisted)
,◉ What are some examples of multifilament?. Answer: Vicryl, silk,
chromic
◉ What are some examples of monofilament?. Answer: Nylon,
monocyrl, prolene, PDS
◉ What are 2 basic configurations for curved needles?. Answer: 1.
Cutting: cutting edge can cut through tough tissue, such as skin
2. Tapered: no cutting edge, used for softer tissue inside the body
◉ Simple interrupted closure. Answer: Most commonly used, good
for shallow wounds without wound tension
Place knot off to side to reduce tension
◉ Continuous Closure (running sutures). Answer: Good for
hemostasis (scalp wounds) and long wounds with minimal tension
◉ Locking continuous. Answer: Usedful in wounds under moderate
tension or those requiring additional hemostasis
◉ Subcuticular. Answer: Good for cosmetic results
, ◉ Vertical mattress. Answer: useful in maximizing wound eversion,
reducing dead space, and minimizing tension across the wound
Far far near near
◉ Horizontal mattress. Answer: good for fragile skin and high
tension wounds
◉ Percutaneous (deep) closure. Answer: Good to close dead space
and decrease wound tension
◉ The vessel is the uterine artery a branch of. Answer: anterior
division of the internal iliac artery
◉ The ovarian artery is also know as and is a branch of. Answer:
Gonal vessels or IP ligament, and is a branch of the aorta
◉ Nulipara. Answer: a woman who has never given birth to a child
who reached the point of viability
◉ Multipara. Answer: woman who has given birth to two or more
children
◉ Primagravida. Answer: first pregnancy
COMPREHENSIVE 2026 REVISION NOTES AND
STRUCTURED SURGICAL ASSISTING
OVERVIEW GUIDE
◉ What are the two different types of suture material? Answer:
Monofilament
Multifilament
◉ Monofilament. Answer: Single strand of suture material
Minimal tissue trauma
Smooth tying but need more knots needed
Resists harboring organisms
Nylon, monocryl, prolene, PDS
◉ Multifilament (braided). Answer: Fibers are braided or twisted
together
More tissue resistance
Easier to handle
Fewer knots needed
Vicryl (braided), silk (braided), chromic (twisted)
,◉ What are some examples of multifilament?. Answer: Vicryl, silk,
chromic
◉ What are some examples of monofilament?. Answer: Nylon,
monocyrl, prolene, PDS
◉ What are 2 basic configurations for curved needles?. Answer: 1.
Cutting: cutting edge can cut through tough tissue, such as skin
2. Tapered: no cutting edge, used for softer tissue inside the body
◉ Simple interrupted closure. Answer: Most commonly used, good
for shallow wounds without wound tension
Place knot off to side to reduce tension
◉ Continuous Closure (running sutures). Answer: Good for
hemostasis (scalp wounds) and long wounds with minimal tension
◉ Locking continuous. Answer: Usedful in wounds under moderate
tension or those requiring additional hemostasis
◉ Subcuticular. Answer: Good for cosmetic results
, ◉ Vertical mattress. Answer: useful in maximizing wound eversion,
reducing dead space, and minimizing tension across the wound
Far far near near
◉ Horizontal mattress. Answer: good for fragile skin and high
tension wounds
◉ Percutaneous (deep) closure. Answer: Good to close dead space
and decrease wound tension
◉ The vessel is the uterine artery a branch of. Answer: anterior
division of the internal iliac artery
◉ The ovarian artery is also know as and is a branch of. Answer:
Gonal vessels or IP ligament, and is a branch of the aorta
◉ Nulipara. Answer: a woman who has never given birth to a child
who reached the point of viability
◉ Multipara. Answer: woman who has given birth to two or more
children
◉ Primagravida. Answer: first pregnancy
