Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

In which tissue does stay suture not pass through?

1. Subcutaneous tissue

2. Rectus muscle

3. Mesentery

4. Fascia

The correct answer is: Mesentery

Stay sutures are typically utilized to hold tissues in a fixed position during surgical procedures, ensuring that they are adequately stabilized and accessible for manipulation or repair. In the context of the question, the correct choice indicates that stay sutures do not pass through mesentery. Mesentery is the tissue that attaches the intestines to the posterior abdominal wall, containing blood vessels, nerves, and lymphatics. It is a specialized connective tissue that supports intestinal structures, but it is not a tissue meant to be anchored or manipulated in the same way as the other structures mentioned, such as subcutaneous tissue, rectus muscle, or fascia. Instead, stay sutures are generally placed in more robust and stable tissues that provide adequate holding strength without risking damage to delicate structures, which is why they would not be utilized directly in the mesentery. The other tissues—subcutaneous tissue, rectus muscle, and fascia—are more involved in surgical procedures requiring stabilization or retraction, making them suitable for stay sutures.