What Is a Standard Hemostat?

A standard hemostat is a tool resembling a pair of scissors. It is a simple clamping mechanism used during surgery to prevent bleeding---or provide hemostasis. The standard hemostat belongs to a group of pivoting medical instruments, including needle and tissue holders. The type of tip used depends on the function required. Other names for the hemostat include hemostatic clamp, arterial forceps and pean.

Appearance

• A hemostat has an interlocking mechanism consisting of a series of graduated teeth.

  The standard hemostat consists of a handle made up of two finger rings that resemble those on scissors, a long handle with an interlocking mechanism, a pivoting joint and jaws at the end for gripping tissue. The handle is at least four times as long as the jaws to allow enough pressure to be exerted on tissues with minimal effort. The handle's interlocking mechanism consists of a series of graduated teeth, which allows the user to clamp tissues or blood vessels at varying pressures---up to nearly nine pounds of pressure---with minimal effort. The jaws of the instrument are made up of two opposing surfaces with jagged ridges to increase grip and narrow tips to hold the minimal amount of tissue.

Types

• The jaws of the hemostat can grip tissue.

  Hemostats are made from stainless steel in different sizes and shapes. Particularly small hemostats may be used in pediatric surgery and larger ones in adult surgery. A curved-tip or straight-tip hemostat may be used, depending on the location of the tissue that must be clamped.

Use

• During major and minor surgery, a surgeon may use many hemostatic clamps as a simple and effective way of preventing bleeding prior to ligation---the tying off of blood vessels. During surgery, they may also be used to help the surgeon pull back the tissues in order to get a better view. Paramedics and combat medics carry them as a standard part of their first aid kits.

History

• Among the earliest representations of an instrument like the hemostat is a drawing---made on an Egyptian tombstone around 1500 B.C.---of a pivoting surgical instrument. The concept of clamping blood vessels prior to ligation has been credited to Galen, the physician of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, and rediscovery of the practice is attributed to the 15th century French surgeon Ambroise Paré. The 18th century English doctor and inventor Stephen Hales is considered the inventor of what today is called the hemostat.

Considerations

• Developments in medical technology have led to the development of many hemostatic devices and agents, including the standard hemostat, electrocoagulation and many topical hemostatic agents. All of these agents and devices are used to save lives daily.