Users should be familiar with surgical procedures and techniques involving absorbable sutures before employing Coated VICRYL RAPIDE for wound closure, as risk of wound dehiscence may vary with the site of application and the suture material used. Surgeons should consider the performance (under ACTIONS section) when selecting a suture. As with any foreign body, prolonged contact of any suture with salt solutions, such as those found in the urginary or biliary tracts, may result in calculus formation. As an absorbable suture, VICRYL RAPIDE may act transiently as a foreign body. Acceptable surgical practice should be followed for the management of contaminated or infected wounds. As VICRYL RAPIDE is an absorbable suture material, the use of supplemental nonabsorbable sutures should be considered by the surgeon in the closure of sites which may undergo expansion, stretching or distension, or which may require additional support. Skin sutures which remain in place longer than 7 days may cause localized irritation and should be snipped or removed as indicated. Consideration should be taken in the use of absorbable sutures in tissues with poor blood supply as suture extrusion nad delayed absorption may occur. Subcuticular sutures should be placed as deeply as possible to minimuze the erythema and induration normally associated with the absorption process. The use of VICRYL RAPIDE may be inappropriate in elderly, malnourished, or debilitated patients, or in patients suffering from conditions which may delay wound healing. In handling this or any other suture material, care should be taken to avoic damage from handling. Avoid crushing or crimping damage due to application of surgical instruments such as foreceps or needle holders. For adequate knot security VICRYL RAPIDE, which is treated with coating to enhance handling characteristics, requires the accepted surgical technique of flat and square ties with additional throws as indicated by surgical technique of flat and square ties with additional throws as indicated by surgical circumstance and experience of the surgeon. Care hsould be taken to avoid damage when handling surgical needs. Grap the needle in an area one-third (1/3) to one half (1/2) of the distance from the attachment end to the point. Grasping in the point area could impair the penetration performance and cause tracture of the needle. Grasping at the butt or attachment end could cause bending and breakage. Reshaping needles may cause them to lose strength and be less resistent to bending and breaking. Users should exercise caution when handling surgical needles to avoid inadvertent needle stick injury. Discard used needles in "Sharps" containers. Do not re-sterilize/reuse. Reuse of this device (or portions of this device) may create a risk of product degradation, which may result in device failure and/or cross contamination, which may lead to infection or transmission of blood borne pathogens to patients and users. For complete product details, please see Instructions for Use.