General Surgery Instruments Overview
General surgery encompasses a broad range of instruments essential for procedures from minor incisions to complex operations. Key categories include:
Retractors maintain surgical exposure by holding back tissues and organs. Examples include the Army-Navy (versatile), Deaver (deep tissue retraction), Balfour (self-retaining for abdominal exposure), Richardson (abdominal/thoracic use), and Senn (for superficial surgeries).
Clamps control bleeding and secure tissues. Notable types are Kocher (firm grasp), Haemostatic clamps like Kelly and Crile (blood vessel control), Bowel clamps (temporary occlusion), Mosquito (delicate tissues), and Allis (tough tissue grasp).
Scissors are vital for cutting tissues and materials. Mayo scissors handle thick tissues, Metzenbaum scissors dissect delicate ones, Iris scissors suit fine procedures, and suture scissors are designed for clean stitch removal.
Forceps manipulate and hold tissues. Adson (delicate handling), DeBakey (vascular work), Mosquito (fine grip), and Allis (firm tissue grasp) provide precision for varied tasks.
Needle Holders such as Mayo-Hegar, Olsen-Hegar, Castroviejo, and Crile-Wood ensure accurate suturing in both general and microsurgical settings.
Suction Tips—Yankauer, Poole, Frazier, and Mayo—keep the surgical field clear, tailored to specific procedures for optimal visibility.