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.