Surgical Instruments and Materials

Flashcards covering definitions, usages, and dimensions of surgical instruments and suture types from the VCS22300 Instrument quiz material.

Ewald Thumb Forceps

Forceps used to grasp and maneuver delicate tissues using thumb and finger pressure to close. Usually 4 3/4 inches in length with very fine serrated tips.

Brown Adson Thumb Forceps

Forceps used to grasp and maneuver delicate tissues using thumb and finger pressure to close. 4 3/4 inches in length with 9 teeth on each side.

Hartman Mosquito Hemostatic Forceps

The smallest of the hemostats (3 1/2 inches in length) with crosswise grooves along the entire jaw, used to clamp or occlude small vessels.

Halstead Mosquito Hemostatic Forceps

The most commonly used hemostat, 5 1/2 inches in length with box lock and crosswise grooves along the entire jaw. Can be curved or straight and is used to occlude small to medium sized blood vessels.

Crile Hemostatic Forceps

Hemostatic forceps 6 1/2 to 7 inches in length with box lock and crosswise grooves along entire jaw. Used to occlude small to medium blood vessels or clamp organs such as uterine horns.

Kelly Hemostatic Forceps

Hemostatic forceps 6 1/2 inches in length with crosswise grooves on only half of the jaw. The other half is smooth to allow clamping of tubing without cutting.

Rochester Carmalt Forceps

Forceps 6 1/4 to 8 inches in length placed perpendicular to vessels to prevent blood flow. The first 1/4 tip has lengthwise and crosswise grooves to grasp/crush tissue, while the remaining 3/4 has lengthwise grooves.

Allis Tissue Forceps

Forceps 6 inches in length with box lock and jaws containing small teeth arranged perpendicularly on each tip in a 3 X 4, 4 X 5, or 5 X 6 pattern. Powerfully holds large tissues but can cause trauma.

Doyen Intestinal Forceps

Non-crushing forceps with long, thin bowed jaws and longitudinal striations along their entire length. Used to occlude the lumen of the bowel.

10 Scalpel Blade

The most commonly used scalpel blade for surgical procedures. Fits a #3 handle.

11 Scalpel Blade

Scalpel blade used to cut tissue in hard-to-reach anatomical areas, or to lance/cut into tissue. Fits a #3 handle.

12 Scalpel Blade

Scalpel blade used to cut tissues in hard-to-reach anatomical areas, lance an abscess, and in the castration of juvenile pigs. Fits a #3 handle.

15 Scalpel Blade

Scalpel blade used for small, precise incisions. Fits a #3 handle.

20 Scalpel Blade

Scalpel blade larger than a #10 blade but similar in shape. Substituted for #10 in large animal procedures and fits a #4 handle.

3 Bard Parker Scalpel Handle

Spatula-shaped handle with ribbed grip areas contoured to fit the hand. Holds #10, #11, #12, and #15 surgical blades and is the most commonly used blade handle.

Army/Navy Retractors

Hand-held retractors 8 1/2 inches in length coming in a set of two. One end is curved and paddled, while the other end is long and angled to facilitate grip.

Malleable Retractor

Hand-held 6-8 inches long and 1-2 inches wide bendable metal retractor used to hold open a wound or incision.

Senn Rake Retractor

Hand-held retractor 6 1/2 inches in length used to open smaller wounds. One end is sharply curved/curled with 3 sharp or blunt prongs, and the other end is angled for a two-finger grip.

Volkman Rake Retractor

Hand-held retractor 8-8 1/2 inches long used to open smaller wounds. One end is sharply curved with 2-6 sharp or blunt prongs, and the other end has a ring or flat handle.

Weitlaner Retractor

Self-retaining retractor with sharp or blunt outwardly curved prongs held open by a ratchet above the handle.

Gelpi Retractor

Self-retaining retractor with gently curved shafts and sharp, outwardly curving points held open by a ratchet.

Balfour Retractor

Self-retaining retractor with two wire-like scooping blades that seat into grooves along the base using abdominal wall tension. Can include an optional third blade for three-directional retraction.

Finochietto Retractor

Heavy-duty retractor with wide square scoops on long thick shafts used to hold ribs apart during thoracic surgery. Scoops are spread by turning a handle.

Absorbable Suture

Suture broken down and reabsorbed by the body generally within 60 days via enzymatic reaction. Used in rapidly healing tissues not subject to disruption.

Non-absorbable Suture

Suture that retains tensile strength for over 60 days, designed for removal or permanent placement in slow-healing tissues or areas under disruptive stress.

Backhaus Towel Clamp

Clamp 3 1/2 to 5 1/2 inches in length with sharply pointed curved tips used to attach surgical drapes to a patient's skin via small punctures.

Derf Needle Holder

Needle holder 4 1/2 inches long with short jaws for superior holding power. Used to grasp/drive suture needles and assist with tying sutures.

Mayo-Hegar Needle Holders

The most commonly used needle holders, featuring short jaws with cross-hatched grooves on the surface and a strong carbide box lock mechanism.

Olsen-Hegar Needle Holder/Scissor

Mayo-Hegar needle holders that feature a built-in scissor.

Frazier Suction Tip

Suction instrument with a small, delicate handle and curved or straight tip, attached to a suction device to aspirate fluids from surgical fields.

Poole Suction Tip

Suction instrument with a plastic handle and slightly curved or straight tip, used to carry aspirated fluids from surgical fields to a storage container.

Snook Ovariectomy Hook

Instrument 8 inches in length with a flat rounded/curved hook tip and spatula-like handle, used to retrieve a uterine horn from within the abdominal cavity.

Yankauer Suction Tip

Suction instrument featuring a large, thick grooved handle with a slightly curved or straight suction tip.

Mayo Operating Scissors

Scissors with heavy, sharp blades having more mass than Metzenbaum scissors, used to bluntly dissect or cut bulky connective tissues and suture materials.

Metzenbaum Scissors

Scissors used to bluntly dissect or cut fine delicate tissues. Must not be used to cut sutures or bandages.

Blunt Dissection

Surgical technique that prevents accidental cutting of tendons, ligaments, and vessels by introducing closed scissors, then opening and pulling them backwards through tissue.

Lister Bandage Scissors

Scissors 3/12 to 8 inches in length with angled blades. One blade ends in a blunt triangle to push skin back and prevent accidental cutting while slipping under bandages.

Spencer Suture Removal Scissors

Scissors used to remove incision line sutures, featuring a small depression or hook on the tip of one blade to slip between suture and skin.

Littauer Scissors

A larger version of Spencer suture removal scissors.