BASIC SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS
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 Occluding Instruments
Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
Clamping and Occluding Instruments
Grasping and olding Instruments
Retracting and Exposing Instruments
!sed to hold bac" or retract organs or tissue to
gain e#posure to the operati$e site. %hey are
either &self'retaining& (stay open on their own)
or &manual& (held by hand). *hen identifying
retractors+ loo" at the blade+ not the handle.
, Deaver retractor (manual) is used to retract deep
abdominal or chest incisions. ,$ailable in $arious
widths.
, Richardson retractor (manual) is used to retract deep
abdominal or chest incisions
,n Army-Navy retractor (manual) is used to retract
shallow or superficial incisions. Other names: USA, US
Army.
, o!"et (manual) is used to retract shallow or
superficial incisions.
, ma""ea#"e or ri##on retractor (manual) is used to
retract deep wounds. -ay be bent to $arious shapes.
, $eit"aner retractor (self'retaining) is used to retract
shallow incisions.
, Ge"%i retractor (self'retaining) is used to retract
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EGBautista Universidad de Sta. Isabel, BSN10 1
shallow incisions.
, Ba"&o!r 'ith #"adder #"ade (self'retaining) is used to
retract wound edges during deep abdominal procedures
Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
,re sharp and are used to cut body tissue or
surgical supplies.
( hand"e 'ith )* #"ade +dee% ,ni&e- ' !sed to
cut deep+ delicate tissue.
. hand"e 'ith )/ #"ade +inside ,ni&e) . !sed
to cut superficial tissue.
0 hand"e 'ith 1/ #"ade +s,in ,ni&e- - !sed to
cut s"in.
2(, 2., 20 +"e&t to riht-
Straiht Mayo scissors ' !sed to cut suture and
supplies. ,lso "nown as: S!t!re scissors.
C!rved Mayo scissors - !sed to cut hea$y tissue
(fascia+ muscle+ uterus+ and breast). ,$ailable in
regular and long si/es.
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EGBautista Universidad de Sta. Isabel, BSN10
Met3en#a!m scissors +A- - !sed to cut delicate tissue.
,$ailable in regular and long si/es.
Clamping and Occluding Instruments
,re used to compress blood $essels or hollow
organs for hemostasis or to pre$ent spillage of
contents.
, hemostat is used to clamp blood $essels or tag
sutures. Its 0aws may be straight or cur$ed.
Other names: cri"e, sna% or stat.
, mos4!ito is used to clamp small blood $essels. Its
0aws may be straight or cur$ed.
, 5e""y is used to clamp larger $essels and tissue.
,$ailable in short and long si/es.
Other names: Rochester 6ean.
, #!r"isher is used to clamp deep blood $essels.
Burlishers ha$e two closed finger rings. Burlishers with
an open finger ring are called tonsil hemostats.
Other names: Schnidt tonsi" &orce%, Adson &orce%.
1elly+ hemostat+ mos2uito (left to right)
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EGBautista Universidad de Sta. Isabel, BSN10 !
, riht an"e is used to clamp hard'to'reach $essels and
to place sutures behind or around a $essel. , right angle
with a suture attached is called a &tie on a passer.&
Other names: Mi7ter.
, hemoc"i% a%%"ier 'ith hemoc"i%s applies metal clips
onto blood $essels and ducts which will remain
occluded.
Grasping and Holding Instruments
,re used to hold tissue+ drapes or sponges.
,n A""is is used to grasp tissue. ,$ailable in short and
long si/es. , &3udd',llis& holds intestinal tissue4 a
&hea$y allis& holds breast tissue.
, Ba#coc, is used to grasp delicate tissue (intestine+
fallopian tube+ o$ary). ,$ailable in short and long
si/es.
, 5ocher is used to grasp hea$y tissue. -ay also be
used as a clamp. %he 0aws may be straight or cur$ed.
Other names: Ochsner.
, 8oerster s%one stic, is used to grasp sponges.
Other names: sponge forcep.
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EGBautista Universidad de Sta. Isabel, BSN10 "
, dissector is used to hold a peanut.
, Bac,ha!s to'e" c"i% is used to hold towels and
drapes in place. Other name: to'e" c"i%.
6ic, !%s, th!m# &orce%s and tiss!e &orce%s are
a$ailable in $arious lengths+ with or without teeth+ and
smooth or serrated 0aws.
R!ssian tiss!e &orce%s are used to grasp tissue.
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EGBautista Universidad de Sta. Isabel, BSN10 #
DeBa,ey &orce%s are used to grasp delicate tissue+
particularly in cardio$ascular surgery.
Adson pic" ups are either smooth: used to grasp
delicate tissue4 or with teeth: used to grasp the s"in.
Other names: Dura forceps.
5ong smooth pic"'ups are called dressin &orce%s.
6hort smooth pic"'ups are used to grasp delicate tissue.
Th!m# &orce%s are used to grasp tough tissue (fascia+
breast). 7orceps may either ha$e many teeth or a
single tooth. 6ingle tooth forceps are also called 9rat
tooth &orce%s:9
Mayo-;ear need"e ho"ders are used to hold needles
when suturing. %hey may also be placed in the sewing
category.
SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS, EGBautista Universidad de Sta. Isabel, BSN10 $
