An Army-Navy retractor (manual) is used to retract
shallow or superficial incisions. Other names: USA, US
BASIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS Army.
• Basic laparotomy instruments are essential to
accomplish most types of general surgery. Each
instrument can be placed into one of the four
following basic categories:
•
– Retracting and Exposing Instruments
– Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
– Clamping and Occluding Instruments
– Grasping and Holding Instruments
A malleable or ribbon retractor (manual) is used to
RETRACTING AND EXPOSING INSTRUMENTS retract deep wounds. May be bent to various shapes.
Used to hold back or retract organs or tissue to
gain exposure to the operative site. They are
either "self-retaining" (stay open on their own) or
"manual" (held by hand). When identifying
retractors, look at the blade, not the handle.
A Deaver retractor (manual) is used to retract deep
abdominal or chest incisions. Available in various
widths. EX. Xplor lap
A Weitlaner retractor (self-retaining) is used to retract
shallow incisions.
A Gelpi retractor (self-retaining) is used to retract
shallow incisions.
A Richardson retractor (manual) is used to retract deep
abdominal or chest incisions.
CUTTING AND DISSECTING INSTRUMENTS
Are sharp and are used to cut body tissue or
surgical supplies.
• Blade handle #7 (deep knife) - Used to cut
deep, delicate tissue.
• 3 handle with 10 blade - (inside knife) – Used
to cut superficial tissue
• 4 handle with 20 blade (skin knife) - Used to
cut skin
Blade Holder # 4
A Balfour with bladder blade (self-retaining) is used to
retract wound edges during deep abdominal procedures
Blade Holder # 3
Straight Mayo scissors - Used to cut suture and
supplies. Also known as: Suture scissors.
Bladder retractor (manual)
Curved Mayo scissors - Used to cut heavy tissue
(fascia, muscle, uterus, and breast). Available in regular
and long sizes.
Senn retractor (manual)
Metzenbaum scissors - Used to cut delicate tissue.
Available in regular and long sizes A Schnidtz is used to clamp deep blood vessels.
Burlishers have two closed finger rings. Burlishers with
an open finger ring are called tonsil hemostats. Other
names: Schnidt tonsil forcep, Adson forcep, Burlisher
CLAMPING AND OCCLUDING INSTRUMENTS
• Are used to compress blood vessels or hollow A right angle is used to clamp hard-to-reach vessels and
organs for hemostasis or to prevent spillage of to place sutures behind or around a vessel. A right angle
contents. with a suture attached is called a "tie on a passer." Other
names: Mixter.
A hemostat is used to clamp small superficial blood
vessels or tag sutures. Its jaws may be straight or
curved. Other names: crile, snap or stat. In many
institutions, this is commonly referred to as mosquito.
A Kelly is used to clamp larger vessels and tissue.
Available in short and long sizes.
Other names: Rochester Pean.
GRASPING AND HOLDING INSTRUMENTS A Foerster sponge stick is used to grasp sponges.
• Are used to hold tissue, drapes or sponges. Other names: sponge forcep, ovum forcep.
An Allis is used to grasp tissue. Available in short and
long sizes. A "heavy allis" holds breast tissue.
A Backhaus towel clip is used to hold towels and
drapes in place. Other name: towel clip.
A Babcock is used to grasp delicate tissue (intestine,
fallopian tube, ovary). Available in short and long sizes.
An Ochsner is used to grasp heavy tissue. May also
be used as a clamp. The jaws may be straight or
curved. Other names: Kocher.
Tissue forceps is used to hold skin/dense tissue.
Adson pick-ups are either smooth: used to grasp
Thumb forceps delicate tissue; or with teeth: used to grasp the skin.
Other names: Dura forceps.
Russian tissue forceps are used to grasp tissue.
De Bakey forceps are used to grasp delicate tissue,
particularly in cardiovascular surgery.
Mayo-Hegar needle holders are used to hold needles
when suturing. They may also be placed in the sewing
category.
