Basic Surgical Instruments: Flashcards
are used to grasp suture needles when suturing tissues.
Needle holders
Different types of Needle Holders:
- Mayo-Hegar
- Olsen-Hegar
- Mathieu
- Castroviejo (Microvascular)
This instrument is used to hold and manipulate curved needles during surgical procedures. This is a heavy needle driver with a mildly tapered tip and no cutting blade
- Mayo-Hegar
This needle holder also contains scissor blades at the base of the jaws which can save time to surgeons working without an assistant. It offers the disadvantage that one may accidentally cut the suture material while working.
Olsen-Hegar
have a ratchet lock at the proximal end of the handles enabling the surgeon to lock and unlock the instrument by squeezing the handles together using a palmed grip.
Mathieu needle holders
are small and are designed to be used with a pencil grip. They have a spring and latch mechanism which allows gentle locking and unlocking and are typically used for microvascular surgery.
Castroviejo needle holders
Handling Technique of Needle holders:
- Tripod Grip
- Thenar Eminence
- Palm Grip
- Pencil Grip
also refered to as the ‘thumb and ring finger grip’, is most commonly used. As this name indicates, it involves placing the thumb and ring finger in the rings of the needle driver.
tripod grip
implies the instrument is held in the palm of the hand while placing the ring finger through the bottom ring of the instrument.
Thenar grip
implies the instrument is held in the palm of the hand without placing any finger through the rings.
Palm Grip
is the technique used for handling microvascular needle drivers such as Castroviejo.
Pencil grip
are used most frequently with #3 being used more often than #4
3 and #4 scalpel handles
(long and skinny) is used frequently for more delicate incisions.
7 handle
Miniature Blade Handle
Beaver
are smaller than regular scalpel handles and will hold a variety of small blades. These are often used for ophthalmic surgery and in restricted spaces such as joints. The blades shown here are #64 (top) and #65 (bottom)
Beaver scalpel handles
are used to create incisions in tissues and can be held in a pencil, palm or fingertip grip.
Scalpels
allows maximum control over the cut but reduces the contact surface between the blade and the tissues because of the angle created, making it ideal for short incisions.
pencil grip
result in better contact of the cutting edge of the blade against the tissues (horizontal position); this is advantageous when making long incisions.
palm and fingertip grips (aka dinner knife grip)
fingertip grip involves the entire scalpel handle being held with the fingertips (without contacting the palm of the hand).
fingertip grip
involves holding the scalpel handle between the thumb and index finger, as one would hold a pencil. It allows maximum control over the cut but reduces the contact surface between the blade and the tissues because of the angle created, making it ideal for short incisions.
pencil grip
have one sharp tip and one blunt tip
sharp-blunt scissors
offer better mechanical advantage and are used to cut through tough, fibrous tissue such as fascia and the linea alba.
straight scissors
are typically used to cut fascia
Mayo scissors
are used to cut through thin and soft tissues such as bowel and fat
Metzenbaum scissors
are used to cut suture during surgery. These scissors are less expensive than Mayo or Metzenbaum scissors which should be reserved for cutting tissues.
Sharp-Blunt scissors
are available in varying lengths and can be curved or straight. These scissors are very strong and are mainly used for cutting connective tissues and fascia. They can also be used for cutting sutures.
Mayo scissors