Uses of Surgical Instruments

Surgeons must make many decisions during an operation and take many risks into consideration. The decisions they make can literally be the difference between life and death. Besides serious considerations, surgeons must also try to use the correct instruments. There are various tools that the surgeon must use to operate. Choosing the correct one is vital and her precision in using the tool is key to a life-saving surgery.

Surgical Forceps

• Forceps are used to grip tissue, blood vessels and walls of organs without causing damage. In many surgeries, the surgeon has to grasp, lift and displace tissue, blood vessels and organ walls. They must do so without causing further injury to the patient. There are various sizes of forceps the surgeon can choose to use, and they each have different opposing tips. Opposing tips are the ends of the forceps, which tip up, branching away from the body of the forceps. The opposing tips may be straight, curved, serrated or toothed.

Surgical Scissors

• Surgical scissors are used for cutting and dissecting tissues. They also cut bandages and sutures. Each procedure has a separate pair of scissors that is used to complete it. Surgical scissors are required in any surgery and have value and durability not seen in regular scissors. Surgical scissors come in many shapes and varieties. They can be made from materials such as stainless steel, Zirconia Ceramic, Nitinol or titanium. They also come in varieties depending on their use such as bandage scissors, dissecting scissors, iris scissors, operating scissors, stitch scissors, tenotomy scissors and plastic surgery scissors.

Surgical Retractors

• Retractors hold back underlying organs and tissues so that the parts under the incision may be operated upon. They also separate the sides of a surgical cut. They are available in many shapes and sizes. They are important because they expose hidden areas and have a tight grip, allowing the surgeon to work easily on a particular section, uninhibited. There are two types of retractors. The first kind is a self-retaining retractor. This kind of retractor does not require an assistant to hold them in place. Instead they can be locked in place. Rib spreaders fall under this category because they hold the ribs apart and are locked in place during operations. The second kind is a hand-held retractor. These require an assistant to hold them. It must be held firmly and steadily by an assistant and expose the maximum area so the surgeon can asses all damage present.

Surgical Scalpels

• Scalpels are extremely sharp knives used to cut and make incisions in a surgery. They are fine blades and require steady and fine cutting. Scalpels are composed of two parts: the handle and the blade. A surgeon must decide which blade is to be used in each surgery depending on the tissue that is to be cut. The blades are curved and angled for greater precision. They are made of specialized and specific materials such as obsidian, medical grade fine steel or a diamond knife blade. They are also notched so that they can fit into the handles.

Conclusion

• The use of the right tool at the right time guarantees success. There are various sub-categories and types of the same tool. A surgeon must be able to differentiate between one tool and another for certain procedures. Surgeons must also have steady hands and apply themselves totally to the surgery they are performing. The manufacturing of high quality tools helps a surgeon complete his job more easily.