This manual has been prepared for the medical professional who would like to learn more about the practice of surgery–the dynamics of tissue healing, the principles of wound closure, and the materials available to today’s practitioners. Most important, it touches on some of the critical decisions which must be made on a daily basis to help ensure proper wound closure. ETHICON PRODUCTS, a Johnson & Johnson company, is the world’s leading marketer of surgical sutures and is the only U.S. company that offers an adhesive with microbial protection as an alternative to sutures for topical skin closure. ETHICON enjoys a reputation for developing quality products to enhance the lives of patients and for providing outstanding service to customers. We hope you find this manual useful. But, above all, we hope that it reflects our high regard for the men and women who have chosen the medical profession as a career. ETHICON PRODUCTS