Blunt suture needle use in laceration and episiotomy repair at vaginal delivery

OBJECTIVE: By surveying obstetricians regarding the use of blunt suture needles for laceration and episiotomy repair, the purpose of this study was to determine whether blunt suture needles represent a safe and effective alternative to sharp needles. STUDY DESIGN: Blunt suture needles were made available at our institution for repairs at vaginal delivery. Participating physicians indicated their personal history of needlestick injuries and rated the blunt suture needle after completing the repair. Categorical variables were analyzed using Fisher's exact test and a 2-tailed P < .05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Attending and resident physicians completed 80 surveys, and 83% reported previous needlestick injuries. Blunt suture needles were rated as excellent or good by 92.5% (95% confidence interval 84.6 to 96.5%). No needlestick injuries occurred. CONCLUSION: In an effort to reduce needlestick injuries, the use of blunt suture needles is safe and effective for repairs at vaginal delivery.