T7: Instrumentation and Care

Question 1

a basic surgical kit will comprise the following instruments:

Answer 1

• scalpel handle
• towel clamps
• scissors - one for muscle/soft tissue and one for sutures
• forceps - plain or ‘dressing’ for holding delicate tissue, “rat-toothed” for holding skin and soft tissue without slipping
• haemostats or artery forceps
• allis tissue forceps or peritoneal forceps - used to maintain a locked grip on the peritoneum (lining of abdominal cavity) to lift the body wall and gain access to the internal organs
• needle holders - Mathieu needle holders which have a ratchet for maintaining grip; Gillies needle holders which incorporate scissors for cutting suture material; Olsen-Hegar needle holders have a ratchet and scissors; Mayo-Hegar needle holders have a ratchet but no scissors
• spey hook

Question 2

How should scalpel blades be attached to and removed from a scalpel handle?

Answer 2

should only be attached to and removed from the scalpel handle using needle holders (never use haemostats) or an instrument which is designed only for holding metal as opposed to being used on living tissue

Question 3

What instrument is this?

Answer 3

backhaus towel clamp

Question 4

What instrument is this?

Answer 4

Jones towel clamp

Question 5

What shapes or types may scissors be?

Answer 5

points are described variously as sharp/sharp, blunt/blunt or sharp/blunt and they can be curved, straight or modified for special uses

Question 6

What kind of scissor is this?

Answer 6

Metzenbaum scissors

used for delicate tissue and come in different sizes. These should never be used for cutting bandages!

Question 7

What kind of scissor is this?

Answer 7

nursing/bandage scissors

Question 8

What are forceps used for?

(tissue/rat-toothed)

Answer 8

• holding tissues during dissection
• closure procedures

Question 9

What are plain forceps used for?

Answer 9

holding tissues where a more delicate grip is required

Question 10

What instrument is this and what is it used for?

Answer 10

• Haemostats
• used for clamping, holding or crushing tissues.
• commonly used for clamping off bleeding vessels, tissue stumps etc.
• The ratchet enables the instrument to be locked into position for maintaining a grip until released by spreading the finger grips.

Question 11

What instrument is this and what is it used for?

Answer 11

• Allis clamps or peritoneal forceps
• for maintaining a locked grip on tissues, especially the peritoneum

Question 12

What instrument is this and what is it used for?

Answer 12

• spey hook
• allows the ovary, fallopian tube or uterine horn to be snared.

Question 13

higher the number, the …… the needle.

Answer 13

smaller

Question 14

Name the different kinds of needle points

Answer 14

• cutting
• taper (round-bodied)
• trocar
• triangular(reverse cutting)
• saber
  *

Question 15

different kinds of needle bodies?

(dont have to know exactly just read so you are aware)

Answer 15

• 5/8 circle
• 1/2 circle
• 3/8 circle
• 1/2 straight
• straight
• an eye

Question 16

What are round bodied needles used for?

Answer 16

internal, soft tissue

Question 17

What are cutting needles used for?

Answer 17

skin sutures (because of the cutting edge, they can damage soft tissue)

Question 18

What instrument is this?

Answer 18

• Mathieu needle holders
• These incorporate a ratchet for maintaining a grip without muscle strain and a quick release by squeezing.

Question 19

What instrument is this?

Answer 19

• Gillies needle holders
• This does not have a ratchet but incorporates a scissor blade for cutting sutures.

Question 20

What instrument is this?

Answer 20

• Olsen Hegar needle holders
• Combination needle holder and scissors

Question 21

What instrument is this and what is it commonly used for?

Answer 21

• deep Gelpi retractor
• Most commonly used in orthopedic and spine surgery.

Question 22

What instrument is this and what is it commonly used for?

Answer 22

• Debakey forceps
• One of the most common surgical forceps, used for grasping soft tissue, blood vessels and bowel.