2. Surgical instruments
• Surgical instruments & tools are specially
designed tools / devices used by the experts in the
medical fraternity for performing specific actions
during surgeries or operations.
• The performance of the OR team is enhanced
when team members know each instrument by
name, how each item is safely handled, and how
each is used.
2/6/2024 2
3. Surgical instruments cont…
• Basic laparatomy instruments are essential to
accomplish most types of general surgery.
• Each instrument can be placed into one of the
four following basic categories
1. Cutting and dissecting
2. Clumping and occluding
3. Grasping and holding
4. Retracting and exposing
2/6/2024 3
4. Surgical instruments cont…
Cutting and dissecting
• Cutting and dissecting instruments are sharp and
are used to cut body tissue or surgical supplies.
• They are used to dissect, incise, separate,
penetrate, or excise tissue.
• This group includes: scissors, knives, biopsy
punches, scalpels (blades), saws , osteotomes ,
drills and curettes, needles, chisels, etc.
2/6/2024 4
8. Suture scissors
• Straight Mayo scissors - Used to cut suture
and supplies. Also known as: Suture
scissors.
2/6/2024 8
9. Surgical instruments cont…
• Curved Mayo scissors -
• Used to cut heavy tissue (fascia, muscle, uterus,
breast). Available in regular and long sizes.
2/6/2024 9
13. Clamping and occluding instruments
• are used to compress blood vessels or hollow
organs for haemostasis or to prevent spillage of
contents.
2/6/2024 13
14. haemostat
• is used to clamp blood vessels or tag sutures. Its
jaws may be straight or curved. Other names:
crile, snap or stat.
• Strait arteries
2/6/2024 14
15. A mosquito
• is used to clamp small blood vessels. Its jaws
may be straight or curved.
• hemostat, mosquito
(left to right)
2/6/2024 15
16. 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)
2/6/2024 16
17. Grasping and holding instruments
• Grasping and holding instruments are used
to hold tissue, drapes or sponges and
manipulate structures.
• Needle holder, thumb forceps, tissue
forceps, Alli’s forceps, bone holders,
tenaculi (tenaculm, singular) etc. are
included in this category.
2/6/2024 17
18. Allis
• is used to grasp tissue. Available in short and long
sizes. A "Judd-Allis" holds intestinal tissue; a
"heavy allis" holds breast tissue.
2/6/2024 18
19. Babcock
• is used to grasp delicate tissue (intestine, fallopian
tube, ovary). Available in short and long sizes.
2/6/2024 19
20. 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.
2/6/2024 20
21. sponge stick
• is used to grasp sponges and used to a
traumatically hold viscera (bowel and bladder).
2/6/2024 21
29. Retracting and exposing instruments
• are used to hold back or retract organs or tissue to
gain exposure to the operative site. They are either
"self-retaining" (stay open on their own) or "manual"
(held by hand).
2/6/2024 29
30. • A Deaver retractor (manual) is used to retract
deep abdominal or chest incisions. Available
in various widths.
2/6/2024 30
31. • A Richardson retractor (manual) is used to
retract deep abdominal or chest incisions.
2/6/2024 31
32. • An Army-Navy retractor (manual) is used to
retract shallow or superficial incisions. Other
names: USA, US Army.
2/6/2024 32
33. • A goulet (manual) is used to retract shallow or
superficial incisions.
2/6/2024 33
34. • A malleable or ribbon retractor (manual) is used
to retract deep wounds. May be bent to various
shapes.
2/6/2024 34
35. • A Weitlaner retractor (self-retaining) is used to
retract shallow incisions. Ends can be blunt or
sharp. Has rake tips. Ratchet to hold tissue apart.
2/6/2024 35
36. • A Gelpi retractor (self-retaining) is used to retract
shallow incisions. Has single point tips and ratchet
to hold tissue apart
2/6/2024 36
37. Recommendations for Inclusion in Local
Policy
The three main areas for consideration are:
• Care of instruments
• General safeguards
• Storage of instruments
2/6/2024 37
38. A. Care of Instruments
• Instruments must only be used for the purpose for
which they are designed.
• Proper selection requires a general understanding of
surgical procedures and a knowledge of anatomy.
• Instruments must not be immersed in saline,
hypochlorite, and chemical disinfectants.
• Delicate instruments should be handled with care and
separated from other instruments.
• Specialized instruments should be regularly checked by
an appropriately trained person.
2/6/2024 38
39. B. General Safeguards
• Regular inspection of all instruments should be made
by an appropriately qualified person.
• instruments found to be contaminated with dried
blood or body tissue prior to surgery must be
discarded.
• Each tray of instruments should contain an instrument
checklist, which incorporates the information
necessary for a recorded program of use.
• The scrub person should ensure that instruments are
handled in such a manner as to avoid personal injury.
2/6/2024 39
40. Cont…
• Special care should be taken with sharp
instruments(e.g., scalpels and loaded needle holders).
It is strongly recommended that all sharp instruments
are transferred between staff in a receiver.
• Instruments must not be allowed to rest directly on
the Patient.
• Instruments which have been taken directly from an
autoclave into the operating room must be allowed to
cool naturally before use.
2/6/2024 40
41. C. Storage of Instruments
• The storage area should be clean, dry and free of
dust.
• All storage surfaces should be smooth, nonporous
and be easily cleanable.
• Sterile items should be protected from direct sunlight.
• The temperature of the storage areas should range
between 22 C and 24 C with a relative humidity.
• Sterile items should be transferred to and from
storage areas on clean, specifically designated
trolleys.
2/6/2024 41
