Fig. 36. A. To cut the suture ends, the suture ends should be pulled up from the tissue plane, allowing the assistant to view the knot, but leaving the knot on the tissue plane. B. If the knot is inadvertently pulled up from the tissue plane, it is more likely that the suture will be cut on the knot. C. If the suture ends are cut with a single blade, it is best to apply tension to the thread that is being cut so that the knot is pulled up against the cutting edge of the blade. The blade should be held stationary so that the knot can be visualized.