Wondering what’s in a surgeon’s instrument kit? Well, then you’ve come to the right place.
There are many types of surgical instruments out there. And while some may look simple, they all have a very important role to play in surgical procedures. Hint: there are several variations of each instrument!
Keep reading to learn the top 4 basic surgical instruments and their uses.
-
Scalpel
You’ve probably heard surgeons on TV calling out for a scalpel before. And that’s because it’s a part of every basic surgical instrument set.
A scalpel is a small and sharp blade used to make initial incisions and cut tissue. And there are several different blades that a surgeon could use in a given surgery, labeled by number.
For example, a number 10 blade makes large incisions through the skin and tissues. A number 11 blade makes sharp incisions as well as stab incisions. And a number 15 blade is rounded, used for making fine incisions without damaging surrounding tissues.
-
Forceps
Forceps are instruments used to grasp or stabilize tissue when doing surgery. There are several different kinds of forceps, so let’s look at a few.
Babcock’s forceps are atraumatic, meaning they cause minimal tissue damage. For this reason, they’re often used to hold bowels, fallopian tubes, or the appendix.
Kocher forceps are either curved or straight and have a horizontally serrated blade. They are used to aggressively grasp denser tissue and catch bleeding points.
-
Scissors
These scissors aren’t like the ones you have at home. They’re a bit tougher and used for cutting the body rather than paper.
For example, curved Mayo scissors are used to cut through heavy body tissue that could be found in the uterus, foot, or breast. On the other hand, straight mayo scissors cut sutures or tissue near the surface of a wound.
Metzenbaum scissors are lighter than Mayo scissors and have longer handles. Surgeons will use them for blunt dissection and cutting fine tissue.
And if you’re an aspiring surgeon, medical supply sites like this help you to find surgical scissors needed for practical experience.
-
Needles
Needles are used for suturing, which means stitching up a wound. And each surgical needle has a different shape and ability.
A tapered needle stretches the skin without cutting it. It’s generally used for closing soft tissues below the skin’s surface.
A conventional cutting needle is more triangular with a sharper edge than a tapered needle. Its primary purpose is to suture tougher tissue such as skin.
Now You Know the Basic Surgical Instruments
Amazingly, a blade and some scissors help to save lives every day at the hands of surgeons.
And while it’s impossible to cover every type of forceps or scalpel out there, now you know the basics! So whether you love medical information or want to be a surgeon, hopefully, you learned something new today.
Did you enjoy this list of basic surgical instruments? If so, check out more of our health content!
