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Medical-Surgical Operating Room Instrument Checklist

A checklist governs what instruments will be included in a surgical tray. There are many different types of trays but the most common is the general tray for each type of service. The instrument team packages all of the trays and sterilizes them.



A general tray includes instruments used in abdominal, thoracic and pelvic surgery. Teams package specialty trays according to each service such as neurology, orthopedic, otorhinolarangology, ophthalmology and cardiovascular.



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  1. General Instrument Checklist

    • A general surgical tray consists of hemostats used for clamping small vessels and controlling bleeding. Retracting instruments are included that range from small clamp-looking instruments used to hold ligaments, vessels and tube-shaped organs to larger retractors that are used to hold organs, muscle and fatty tissue away from the surgical site.

      Sharps including scalpels and scissors are part of a general tray. Forceps as well as small and large and sponge sticks used for prepping patients and controlling bleeding are part of the general tray. Needle holders and towel clips are also included as well as suction tips for fluid removal.

    Speciality Instrument Checklist

    • Each specialty service has a general instrument tray that includes instruments that clamp, retract and cut. The orthopedic trays include special orthopedic instruments that cut and scrape the bone. It includes retractors that have teeth to hold back muscle, regular and needle-nose pliers and wire cutters.

      Larger instruments not suitable for the general orthopedic tray include bone cutters called rongeurs. Rongeurs are equipped with a handle for grasping and a tip suitable for biting away bone. Saws used to cut large and small bones are packed separately from the orthopedic tray. Instruments that are sterilized separately include power and hand drills, instruments used for reaming, chisels and mallets.

      Other services include the same type of instruments, clamping, cutting and retracting, but they look different. Microsurgery instruments are the smallest of all the services and they are used in ear, eye, hand, vascular and neurological surgeries.

    Special Procedure Checklist

    • Special procedures instruments that warrant separate packaging include scopes that are less invasive. There are fiber-optic instruments used for viewing the intestines, lungs, joints and abdomen.

      Some back surgeries require special retractors that are weighted.

      Joint replacements may be sterilized separately or in a kit that includes various sizes. Replacements can include hip, shoulder, knee, finger and toe.

      Dilation instruments are part of kits used in urology, gynecology and thoracic surgery.

      Cystology (bladder) instruments are kept in a special instrument tray and are packaged according to adult and pediatric.

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