Seton

Seton is a term used in medicine, religion, and geography, and it also appears as a surname and place name. In medical contexts, a seton is a surgical device consisting of a line, thread, or tube inserted through a wound or fistulous tract to promote drainage and tract formation. Setons may be left in place for extended periods and can be categorized as draining, cutting, or divided, depending on the desired effect. They are used for chronic abscesses and fistulas, including anorectal fistulas and hidradenitis suppurativa, and require careful management to minimize infection and patient discomfort. Advances in surgical techniques have provided alternatives, but setons remain a tool in complex cases where other treatments are unsuitable or have failed.

In religious history, Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774–1821) is a prominent figure. Born in the United States, she founded the Sisters of Charity and was canonized as the first native-born American saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Her name has given rise to institutions and geographical uses of Seton in names and titles.

Seton also functions as a surname with Scottish origins and as a toponym. There are places associated with the Seton name in Scotland, including Seton, East Lothian, and Seton Castle, reflecting historical noble lineages and landholding. The name has been carried into various institutions and organizations, including Seton Hall University in New Jersey, which is named in honor of Elizabeth Ann Seton and her family heritage.

Overall, Seton denotes a diverse set of references across medicine, religion, and geography, linked by the historical prominence of the Seton name and its toponymic roots.