This document provides an overview of basic surgical instruments categorized into four groups: retracting and exposing instruments, cutting and dissecting instruments, clamping and occluding instruments, and grasping and holding instruments. Specific instruments are described within each category, including their names, intended uses, and key features. Common instruments include retractors, scalpels, scissors, forceps, and needle holders. The document serves as a reference for identifying and understanding basic tools used in surgery.

1. BASIC SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS

2. 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 Holding Instruments

3. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
used to hold back or retract organs or tissue to gain exposure to
the operative site.
"self-retaining" (stay open on their own)
"manual" (held by hand).
When identifying retractors, look at the blade, not the handle.

4. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A Deaver retractor (manual) is used to retract deep
abdominal or chest incisions. Available in various widths.

5. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A Richardson retractor (manual) is used to retract deep
abdominal or chest incisions

6. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
An Army-Navy retractor (manual) is used to retract shallow
or superficial incisions. Other names: USA, US Army.

7. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A goulet (manual) is used to retract shallow or superficial
incisions.

8. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A malleable or ribbon retractor (manual) is used to retract
deep wounds. May be bent to various shapes.

9. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A Weitlaner retractor (self-retaining) is used to retract
shallow incisions.

10. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A Gelpi retractor (self-retaining) is used to retract shallow
incisions.

11. Retracting and Exposing Instruments
A Balfour with bladder blade (self-retaining) is used to
retract wound edges during deep abdominal procedures.

12. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
are sharp and are used to cut body tissue or surgical
supplies.
Knife Handle, Scissors
(left to right)

13. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
7 handle with 15 blade (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.
#7, #3, #4
(left to right)

14. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
Straight Mayo scissors - Used to cut suture and
supplies. Also known as: Suture scissors.
EX: Straight Mayo scissors being used to cut suture.

15. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
Curved Mayo scissors - Used to cut heavy tissue (fascia,
muscle, uterus, breast). Available in regular and long sizes.

16. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments
Metzenbaum scissors - Used to cut delicate
tissue. Available in regular and long sizes.

17. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
are used to compress blood vessels or hollow organs for
hemostasis or to prevent spillage of contents.

18. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
A hemostat is used to clamp blood vessels or tag
sutures. Its jaws may be straight or curved. Other names:
crile, snap or stat.

19. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
A mosquito is used to clamp small blood vessels. Its jaws
may be straight or curved.
hemostat, mosquito (left to right)

20. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
A Kelly is used to clamp larger vessels and tissue. Available
in short and long sizes. Other names: Rochester Pean.
Kelly, hemostat, mosquito (left to right)

21. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
A burlisher 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.

22. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
A right angle is used to clamp hard-to-reach vessels and to
place sutures behind or around a vessel. A right angle with
a suture attached is called a "tie on a passer." Other names:
Mixter.

23. Clamping and Occluding Instruments
A hemoclip applier with hemoclips applies metal clips onto
blood vessels and ducts which will remain occluded.
hemoclip applier with hemoclips

24. Grasping and Holding Instruments
are used to hold tissue, drapes or sponges.

25. Grasping and Holding Instruments
An Allis is used to grasp tissue. Available in short and long
sizes. A "Judd-Allis" holds intestinal tissue; a "heavy allis"
holds breast tissue.

26. Grasping and Holding Instruments
A Babcock is used to grasp delicate tissue (intestine,
fallopian tube, ovary). Available in short and long sizes.

27. Grasping and Holding Instruments
A Kocher is used to grasp heavy tissue. May also be used as
a clamp. The jaws may be straight or curved. Other names:
Ochsner.

28. Grasping and Holding Instruments
A Foerster sponge stick is used to grasp sponges. Other
names: sponge forcep.
Foerster sponge stick EX: Sponge sticks holding a 4 X 4
and probang.

29. Grasping and Holding Instruments
A dissector is used to hold a peanut.
dissector
EX: Dissector holding a peanut.

30. Grasping and Holding Instruments
A Backhaus towel clip is used to hold towels and drapes in
place. Other name: towel clip.
Backhaus towel clip Large & small towel clips

31. Grasping and Holding Instruments
Pick ups, thumb forceps and tissue forceps are available in
various lengths, with or without teeth, and smooth or
serrated jaws.

32. Grasping and Holding Instruments
Russian tissue forceps are used to grasp tissue.

33. Grasping and Holding Instruments
Adson pick ups are either smooth: used to grasp delicate
tissue; or with teeth: used to grasp the skin. Other names:
Dura forceps.

34. Grasping and Holding Instruments
Long smooth pick-ups are called dressing forceps. Short
smooth pick-ups are used to grasp delicate tissue.

35. Grasping and Holding Instruments
DeBakey forceps are used to grasp delicate tissue,
particularly in cardiovascular surgery.

36. Grasping and Holding Instruments
Thumb forceps are used to grasp tough tissue (fascia,
breast). Forceps may either have many teeth or a single
tooth. Single tooth forceps are also called "rat tooth
forceps."
single tooth forceps, many teeth forceps
(top to bottom)

37. Grasping and Holding Instruments
Mayo-Hegar needle holders are used to hold needles when
suturing. They may also be placed in the sewing category.
short, medium & long
(top to bottom)
EX: Needle holder with suture.

38. Surgical
Instruments
G R A S P I N G A N D C L A M P I N G
R E T R A C T I N G
C U T T I N G A N D D I S S E C T I N G
P R O B I N G A N D D I L A T I N G

39. Sponge Forceps
 Used to hold gauze squares
or sponge to “mop up” the
surgical site
 Jaws are serrated

40. Transfer Forceps
When sterile, transfer
forceps;
arrange items on sterile tray
transfer items to sterile field

41. Splinter Forceps
Fine tip for foreign object
retrieval

42. Walter Splinter Forceps
Very fine tip
Spear-head design

43. 1x2 Toothed Tissue Forceps
Used for grasping and holding
tissue, muscle or skin
surrounding a wound
Single toothed on one side; fits
between two teeth on the
other side
Available as 1x2 or 2x3 or 3x4

44. Plain Thumb Forceps
Used to hold tissue in place when applying sutures
Used to gently move tissues out of the way during exploratory
surgery
Used to insert packing into or remove objects from deep cavities

45. Curved Mosquito Hemostat
Used to hold delicate tissue
Used to compress bleeding
vessels
Jaws are fully serrated

46. Kelly Hemostat
Used to clamp small vessels or hold tissue
Jaws are partially serrated
Curved or straight

47. Needle Holder
Used to hold and pass a suturing needle through tissue
Has groove to hold needle within jaws

48. Towel Clamp
Adds weight to drapes and towels to ensure they stay in place
Allow exposure of the operative site

49. Skin Hook
Flat end is a blunt retractor
Three-prong end may be sharp to dull
Used to retract small incisions or secure a skin edge for suturing

50. Iris Suture Scissors
Used to remove sutures
Blade has beak or hook to slide
under sutures

51. Scalpel Holder
Holds scalpel blade
Acts as a handle

52. Lister Bandage Scissors
Used to remove bandages and dressings
Probe tip is blunt; inserted under bandages with relative safety

53. Sharp/Sharp Scissors
Used to cut and dissect tissue
Both blade tips are sharp

54. Sharp/Blunt Scissors
Used to cut and dissect fascia and muscle
One blunt tip and one sharp tip

55. Curved Blunt/Blunt Scissors
Both blade tips are blunt
Can be curved or straight

56. Ear Currette
Can have sharp or blunt scraper ends
Used to remove ear wax from ear canal

57. Nasal Speculum
Used to spread nostrils during examination

58. Vaginal Speculum
Used during gynecological
exam or procedure
Dilates the opening of the
vaginal cavity, allowing for
inspection of the vagina and
cervix
Facilitates access for
observation and treatment