Basic Surgical Instruments Metzenbaum scissors – used to cut Adson Pick ups – (smooth) used to grasp

Basic laparotomy instruments are essential delicate tissue delicate tissue; (w/teeth) used to grasp skin
to accomplish most types of general surgery.
Each Instrument can be placed into one of
the four following basic categories:
• Retracting and Exposing • Clamping and Occluding Debakey – are used to grasp delicate
- Used to hold back or retract organs or Are used to compress blood tissue, particularly in cardiovascular surgery.
tissue to gain exposure to the operative vessels or hollow organs for
site. hemostasis or to prevent spillage
“self-retaining” ( stay open on their own) of contents.
“Manual” (Held by hand) Thumb Forceps are used to grasp tough
- When identifying retractors, look at the Hemostat – used to clamp blood vessels or tissue (fascia, breast) Forceps may either
blade, not the handle. tag sutures. Its jaws may be straight or have many teeth or a single tooth (also
a. Deaver retractor ( manual) is used to curved. (aka: crile, snap or stat.) called rat tooth)
retract deep abdominal or chest
incisions
Mosquito – used to clamp small blood
vessels. Its jaws may be straight or curved.
Lister bandage scissor – used to remove
b. Richardson retractor (manual) is used bandages and dressing, Probe tip is blunt;
to retract deep abdominal incisions. inserted under bandages with relative safety
Kelly – is used to clamp larger vessels and
tissue. (aka Pean)
c. Army-Navy retractor (manual) is Sharp/Sharp Scissors – used to cut and
used to retract shallow or superficial dissect tissue, both blade tips are sharp
incisions. Other names: USA, US army.

Angle clamp or Mixter – is used to clamp

hard-to-reach vessels and to place sutures
d. Malleable or Ribbon retractor Sharp/Blunt Scissors – Used to cut and
behind or around a vessel.
(manual) is used to retract deep dissect fascia and muscle, 1 blunt tip and 1
wounds. May be bent to various shapes. sharp tip.

• Grasping and Holding – are

used to hold tissue, drapes or
e. Balfour with bladder blade (self- sponges. Curved blunt/blunt scissors – both blade
retaining) is used to retract wound Allis – is used to grasp tissue. tips are blunt, can be curved or straight
edges

Vaginal Speculum – used during

Babcock – used to grasp delicate tissue gynecological exam or procedure. Dilates
(intestine, fallopian tube, ovary) the opening of the vaginal cavity, allowing
• Cutting and Dissecting for inspection of the vagina and cervix.
7 handle with 15 blade (deep knife) Facilitates access for observation and
- Used to cut deep, delicate tissue treatment
3 handle with 10 blade (inside Knife) Koshner/Oshner – used to grasp heavy
- Used to cut tissue tissue. May also used as a clamp
4 handle with 20 blade (skin knife)
- Used to cut skin
Straight mayo scissors – used to cut Gelpi Retractor Weitlaner
suture and supplies aka: Suture scissors
Dissector – used to hold a peanut

Towel clip – used to hold towels and

Curved mayo scissors – used to cut heavy drapes in place
tissue (fascia, muscle, uterus, breast)
Goelet Gosset