General surgical instruments and use with image
Reading File
Finding Sources
Searching the Web
general surgical instruments names uses images labeled
Finding Sources
Reading Web Page
https://www.facs.org/media/wgcmalet/common_surgical_instrume…
Reading File
Loading Image
Searching the Web
labeled diagram surgical instruments scalpel scissors forceps retractor clamp needle holder
Loading Image
Loading Image
I now have comprehensive content from the ACS surgical instruments guide and textbooks, plus labeled images. Here is the complete guide:
General Surgical Instruments and Their Uses
Surgical instruments are classified into functional categories based on what they do in the operative field. Below is a systematic overview of all major categories, with key instruments described in detail.
Visual Reference
1. CUTTING & DISSECTING
Scalpel
The scalpel consists of a handle and a detachable blade. The surgeon refers to the instrument by its blade number:
| Blade | Use |
|---|---|
| #10 | Large skin incisions (laparotomy, thoracic surgery, hernia repair); curved edge for broad cuts |
| #11 | Precise, sharply angled incisions; used to open abscesses or vessels |
| #15 | Finer incisions in delicate tissue; smaller version of the #10 |
| #3 Handle | Most commonly used with #10 and #15 blades (superficial work) |
| #4 Handle | Longer, for deeper work or use with larger blades |
Scissors
| Instrument | Description | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Mayo Scissors (Straight) | Heavy, straight blades | Cutting suture material ("suture scissors") |
| Mayo Scissors (Curved) | Heavy, curved blades | Cutting heavy tissue such as fascia |
| Metzenbaum Scissors | Long, delicate blades | Cutting delicate tissue (e.g. cardiac tissue); blunt dissection |
2. GRASPING & HOLDING (Forceps)
Also called non-locking forceps - they work like tweezers and do not ratchet.
| Instrument | Description | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Adson Forceps | Toothed tips | Grasping dense tissue, skin closures |
| DeBakey Forceps | Fine, atraumatic serrations | Atraumatic grasping during vascular dissection |
| Bonney Forceps | Heavy, toothed | Holding thick tissue during fascial closure |
| Russian Forceps | Broad, rounded tip | Atraumatic tissue grasping during dissection |
| Tissue Forceps (non-toothed) | Smooth tips | Fine tissue handling and traction |
| Babcock Forceps | Fenestrated, rounded jaws | Grasping delicate structures like bowel without crushing |
| Allis Forceps | Interlocking teeth | Grasping tissue during removal; has some traumatic effect |
| Forester (Sponge) Forceps | Circular, fenestrated jaws | Holding surgical sponges/Raytecs; applying antiseptic |
3. CLAMPING & OCCLUDING
Also called locking forceps - these ratchet closed to hold tissue, provide hemostasis, or occlude vessels.
| Instrument | Description | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Crile Hemostat ("Snap") | Atraumatic, non-toothed | Grasping tissue/vessels to be ligated; blunt dissection |
| Kelly Clamp | Larger hemostat | Clamping larger vessels or tissue bundles |
| Kocher Forceps | Toothed jaws | Grasping heavy tissue (traumatic - not for vessels) |
| Rochester-Pean Forceps | Long, heavy, curved | Clamping large vessels or pedicles |
| Right-Angle Clamp | 90-degree jaw | Passing ligatures around a vessel; clamping in tight angles |
| Lahey Gall Duct Forceps | Angled, fine tip | Dissecting around the common bile duct; right-angle work |
| DeBakey Vascular Clamp | Atraumatic jaws | Occluding major blood vessels without intimal damage |
| Fogarty Clamp | Vascular, atraumatic | Temporary occlusion of arteries during vascular repair |
| Penetrating Towel Clamp | Sharp pointed tips | Securing sterile drapes to patient; reducing small bone fractures |
4. RETRACTING & EXPOSING
Retractors hold the incision open or move tissue out of the operative field. They can be hand-held or self-retaining.
Hand-Held Retractors
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Deaver Retractor | Retracting deep wounds and abdominal viscera |
| Richardson Retractor | Retracting superficial and medium-depth wounds |
| Army-Navy Retractor | Superficial wound retraction; double-ended |
| Volkman (Rake) Retractor | Sharp or blunt teeth; holds back surface structures |
| Malleable Retractor | Can be bent to any angle; also protects bowel during abdominal closure |
Self-Retaining Retractors
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Balfour Retractor | Deep abdominal retraction; used in laparotomy |
| Gelpi Retractor | Small wound retraction; commonly used in orthopedic and spine surgery |
| Weitlaner Retractor | General wound retraction; self-locking |
5. SUTURING & STAPLING
Needle Holders
Needle holders grip the suture needle and allow the surgeon to drive it through tissue.
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Mayo-Hegar Needle Holder | Standard needle holder for most suturing; heavy jaws for larger needles |
| Castroviejo Needle Holder | Fine ophthalmic/microsurgery suturing |
| DeBakey Needle Holder | Long handle (250 mm); used in deep or cardiovascular suturing |
Needles & Suture
- Curved needles - used in most general surgical procedures
- Straight needles - used for skin and subcuticular suturing
- Cutting needles cut through tough tissue (skin, fascia); tapered needles pierce without cutting (intestine, vessels)
Stapling Devices
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Linear Cutter (GIA) | Creates a linear cut and staples both free edges simultaneously; used in resections and anastomosis |
| Circular Stapler (EEA) | Creates end-to-end or end-to-side bowel anastomosis |
| Endostapler | Laparoscopic version; simultaneous cutting and stapling; may be manual or electronic with articulating head |
6. SUCTION DEVICES
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Yankauer Suction Tube | Surface suction; oropharyngeal and intra-abdominal use |
| Poole Suction Tube | Removes large volumes of fluid from deep cavities (e.g. peritoneal irrigation) |
| Frazier Suction Tip | Angled; primarily used in ENT and neurosurgery for fine, precise suction |
7. ELECTROSURGICAL & ENERGY DEVICES
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Electrocautery (Bovie) | Cuts or coagulates tissue using alternating electrical current; monopolar or bipolar |
| Bipolar Forceps | Current passes only between the tips; safer near nerves and vessels |
| Harmonic Scalpel (Ultrasonic) | Uses high-frequency ultrasound to cut and simultaneously seal tissue; less thermal spread than electrocautery |
8. LAPAROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS
All laparoscopic instruments are adapted versions of open instruments, designed to pass through narrow trocars (5 mm, 10 mm, 12 mm ports).
| Instrument | Use |
|---|---|
| Trocar/Cannula | Port placed through skin to allow passage of laparoscopic instruments |
| Laparoscopic Grasper | Grasping/retracting tissue through a trocar |
| Laparoscopic Scissors | Cutting tissue laparoscopically |
| Clip Applier | Applying titanium/polymer clips to ligate vessels or ducts |
| Laparoscopic Needle Driver | Intracorporeal suturing |
| Endostapler | Simultaneous cutting and stapling; articulating head for difficult angles |
Quick Summary Table by Function
| Function | Key Instruments |
|---|---|
| Cutting | Scalpel (#10, #11, #15), Mayo scissors, Metzenbaum scissors |
| Grasping | DeBakey, Adson, Babcock, Allis, Russian forceps |
| Clamping/Hemostasis | Crile hemostat, Kelly clamp, Kocher, Rochester-Pean |
| Retracting | Deaver, Balfour, Gelpi, Malleable, Rake retractor |
| Suturing | Mayo-Hegar needle holder, curved/straight needles |
| Stapling | GIA linear cutter, EEA circular stapler, Endostapler |
| Suction | Yankauer, Poole, Frazier |
| Energy | Bovie electrocautery, Bipolar, Harmonic scalpel |
Sources: ACS Common Surgical Instruments Guide | Cummings Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery | CSTSetup 54 Basic Surgical Instruments
This is a shared conversation. Sign in to Orris to start your own chat.