Veterinary Assistant 2 - Surgical Instruments Flashcards
Surgical Instruments & Materials
Towel Clamps
Used to hold surgical drapes in place.
Grasps a small amount of skin under the drape to secure it around the incision area.
Mayo Scissors
Larger scissors with blunt ends.
Used for cutting larger, thicker pieces of tissue.
Metzenbaum Scissors
Smaller and more delicate than Mayo scissors.
May have blunt or sharp tips.
Used for cutting thinner, more delicate tissues.
Olsen-Hegar Needle Holders
Also known as needle drivers.
Capable of holding a needle and cutting suture in one instrument.
"Rat Tooth" or Adson Forceps
Used to grab tissue.
Scalpel Blade Handle
The handle into which a scalpel blade is inserted for cutting.
Scalpel Blade
Comes in different sizes and angles.
Different blades are used for different tissue cuts.
Surgical Clipper Blade
Size 40 blade allows for a surgical clip.
Many teeth are closely spaced together.
Suture Scissors
Used to remove and cut external sutures.
Mayo-Hegar Needle Holders
Used to hold a needle during surgery.
"Mouse Tooth" or Adson-Brown Forceps
Used to grip finer, delicate tissue.
Features smaller teeth compared to "rat tooth" forceps.
Allis Tissue Forceps
Used to grab and retract tissue.
Babcock Tissue Forceps
Used to grab and retract tissue.
Gelpi Retractor
Used to open large body cavities.
Self-retracting, maintaining the opening without continuous manual force.
Senn Retractor
Used to pull back the body wall to improve visualization and access.
Spay Hook
Used to help remove the uterus from the body cavity during a spay procedure.
Kelly Forceps
Hemostat with transverse striations only on the distal portion.
Striations do not extend all the way down the shaft.
Used on large vessels to clamp and control blood flow.
Rochester-Carmalt Forceps
Largest hemostat with longitudinal grooves.
Used for crushing large vessels.
Crile Forceps
Transverse serrations run along the whole length of the instrument.
Used on larger vessels.
Mosquito Forceps
Smallest forceps with transverse striations.
Used for delicate tissue and fine vessel clamping.
LDS Stapler
Ligating Dividing Stapler.
Used for internal staples, often in procedures like splenectomy.
Skin Stapler
External stapler used for skin lacerations.
Staple Remover
Used to remove external staples after the healing process.
Guillotine Nail Clipper
Used for nail trims.
May also be used in dewclaw removal.
Dental Curette
Used to remove tartar below the gum line.
Comes in different angles and shapes to access various areas of the mouth.
Periosteal Elevator
Assists in tooth removal.
Elevates the tooth and breaks ligaments connecting it to the bone.
Scaler
Used to remove tartar and plaque from the teeth.
Rongeurs
Used to remove bone pieces.
Specific types are designed for use in the mouth.
Suture Material
Absorbable Suture: Commonly used within body cavities.
Non-Absorbable Suture: Used when the closure needs to be strong.
Used to ligate tissue and blood vessels.
Holds tissue together, limiting reaction or bacteria growth.
Monofilament Suture: Made of a single strand.
Multifilament Suture: Made of several strands together.
Suture diameter and strength: the smaller the suture diameter, the lower its strength
(10-0 - smallest to 7-0 largest).
2-0, 3-0, and 4-0 are most commonly used.
Suture Needle
Made from stainless steel (SS).
Available in various sizes (e.g., Size 1, 2, & 3).
Comes in curved and straight forms.
Used in animal surgery.
Cutting or Taper Suture Needles
The choice depends on the tissue type and required sharpness and cutting ability.
Surgical Drape
May or may not be fenestrated (have a hole).
May be made of cloth or paper.
Used to maintain a sterile surgical field.
Reference
Sirois, M. (2021) Elsevier's Veterinary Assisting Textbook. 3nd Edition.