Skill Module: Teabags
Skills: Needle control, sewing
On this page:
- Supplies and Setup
- Instructions and Objectives
- Scoring Rubric
- Scorecard
Supplies and Setup
Supplies
- 2 teabags – Barry’s (pictured) or similar
- Suture (we use a 4-0 braided absorbable suture on a taper needle, cut to 30cm in length)
- 1 piece of unmarked white paper, marking pen, and ruler
OR print out of:
Rings.pdf
Set up
- Draw your ring: 12cm-diameter circle.
- Mark two starting lines 2cm off the midline.
- Steep your teabags. Squeeze out the excess tea.
- Place the teabags on the starting lines, tented against each other.
Objectives
Primary objectives
- Sew teabags to each other along the top (long) edge.
- 4 interrupted sutures: 1 surgeon’s knot, 1 vertical mattress, 1 horizontal mattress, one free choice. 4 knots in each.
- Don’t cut your last suture. Run it to the end of the pouch, making at least 3 passes of your needle, and tie it.
Technical objectives
- Suture precisely at the interface between the collar and the tea pouch.
- Space your sutures evenly and leave yourself enough suture to complete the task.
- Tie down. No air knots. Avoid pulling on your suture and moving your tea bag out of the ring or tearing the collar.
Anatomy of a Teabag
Scoring Rubric
Did you complete the exercise in under 20 minutes?
- Yes: under 10 minutes (15 points)
- Yes: 10-15 minutes (10 points)
- Yes: 15-20 minutes (5 points)
- No (0 points)
Are there marks outside of the ring?
- Yes (0 points)
- No (10 points)
Are your sutures placed precisely?
- All sutures are through the inside half of the collar (15 points)
- All sutures are through the collar but one or more are placed in the outside half; none are placed into the tea pouch (5 points)
- One or more sutures are placed into the tea pouch (0 points)
Did any of your sutures or instruments pull through and tear the teabag?
- No (15 points)
- Yes - tore the collar (5 points)
- Yes - tore/poked through the tea pouch (2 points)
- Yes - tore/poked through the tea pouch, causing spillage of tea leaves (0 points)
Are there any air knots?
- Yes (0 points)
- No (15 points)
Are your interrupted sutures equally spaced?
- Yes - the distance between knots is similar (no more than 3mm variance in spacing between sutures) (10 points)
- No - the distance between knots is variable (>3mm variance in spacing between sutures) (0 points)
Does your suture span the edges of the tea pouch?
- Yes (15 points)
- No (0 points)
Calculate Your Score
Related
Contact the GAMERS team
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