title: The use of imbricated sutures in radioactive plaque brachytherapy surgery.
abstract: This paper describes a new technique to suture the radioactive plaque to sclera. The radioactive plaque is conventionally sutured to the sclera using 5/0 nylon sutures. The imbricated suture technique involves using a 1/0 silk or 2/0 mersilene suture imbricated with the 5/0 nylon suture when the nylon suture is tied and cut. The imbricated suture technique allows easy identification of the plaque at removal and provides a surface that separates the 5/0 nylon from the surface of the eyelet platform, making suture cutting easier and safer. The radiation exposure times ranged from 9.1 minutes to 14 minutes (mean: 10.8 minutes) during plaque insertion and from 2.8 to 3.3 minutes (mean: 3.0 minutes) during plaque removal with the imbricated suture technique. This technique may decrease radiation exposure time and may prevent inadvertent scleral damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.
authors.forename: Kaan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gündüz
authors.forename: Jose S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Pulido
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Yeakel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Classic
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Furutani
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