There are many different surgical specialties, some of which require very specific kinds of surgical instruments to perform.
General surgery is a specialty focused on the abdominal contents, as well as the thyroid gland, and diseases involving skin, breasts, various soft tissues, trauma, peripheral vascular disease, hernias, and endoscopic procedures.
This page is dedicated specifically to listing surgical instruments used in general surgery.
Instruments can be classified in many ways - but broadly speaking, there are five kinds of instruments.
Instruments used in surgery are:[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
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Aortic Cross-Clamp – The aortic cross clamp (or simply: the cross clamp) is used mostly in cardiac surgery, where the cross-clamp is used to hold the aorta. This separates the heart from the body’s circulation, and is followed by cardioplegia, a state where the heart refrains from beating. These operations must be quickly performed or the doctor must take other precautions such as chilling the heart to preserve functionality and prevent damage. If oxygen does not reach tissue for a long period of time, damage can follow. Another risk is the possibility for patients to develop clots which could then lead to vein blockage or a stroke. These possibilities are caused by the clamping down of the cross clamp. However, releasing the clamp may cause trouble too, such as reperfusion injury, where a body part might be very suddenly flooded with blood flow, which may overload tissues. This tool is a key when it comes to procedures of and around the heart, but since the organs are so crucial and central to the operation of the entire body, it is important to take special care and have a cardiothoracic surgeon nearby.
Army-Navy Retractors – This retractor is handheld with broad blades, ideal for getting into and exposing large muscles, and is most often used in orthopedic and general surgeries. The double ended feature allows for one side (the longer side, a.k.a the “navy side”) to be inserted deeper into the wound. This manual tool is also known as the USA retractor and the US Army.
Bovie – Invented by William Bovie who contributed to the U.S medical community throughout his lifetime spanning between 1882-1958, the Bovie is an instrument used for electrosurgical dissection and hemostasis. Typically a noun describing the tool, “bovie” can also be used as a verb. For example, “to Bovie a blood vessel”, or to dissect or cauterized the blood vessel with the Bovie tool.
Cartilage Crusher – With a name worthy of a professional wrestling’s championship belt, the cartilage crusher does just what the name suggests–crushes cartilage. Used mostly in reconstruction and rhinoplasty, the tool is joined with a mallet and hit until the desired results are achieved.
Castroviejo needle holder – Commonly used in eye surgery, microsurgery, and suturing due to its ability to easily and precisely control the handles, the Castroviejo needle holder has connected handles and sometimes a lock in which the needle is held in place for optimal security.
DeBakey Atraumatic Multi-Purpose Clamp – Use this tool either as a hemostat in blood flow prevention, or as forceps to get a better grip on delicate tissues with its atraumatic teeth. The clamp is angled at 60 or 90 degrees.
Bone Curette – Have a bone to curette? Who doesn’t. Look no further than the one and only bone curette. With sharp edges and an easy grip handle, this small ice cream scoop shaped tip will take care of all your curetting needs.
Adson Cerebellar Retractor – Used in neurosurgical procedures, this handy dandy tool allows surgeons the best control when working with and retracting the cerebellum, a part of the brain located in the back of the skull that connects to muscular activity. When working on this sensitive part of the body, nobody has the time or the arm strength to hold this tool and more. Luckily, it has a locking feature that allows the ring handles to keep their position so surgeons can do it all.
Cottle Angular Scissors – Did someone sit on these scissors? No. Cottle angular scissors are designed with a dent in the handle to reach mucosal tissue in the nose and may be used to remove the cartilaginous hump. Also known as turbinate scissors or posterior scissors, these blunt blades come in small and medium sizes.
Desmarres Retractors – With a curved tip like a flower, the Desmarres retractor is designed to hook beneath the eyelid and is used during intravitreal injections of the eye, which has become a rather common procedure in the United States. Before the tool is used, the patient will be asked to look downward, and the instrument will be inserted under the upper lid, when the doctor will retract the eyelid back to expose the site of injection.
Doyan Rib Rasp – With a long neck, comfortable handle, and horizontal hook, the Doyen rib raspatory is designed for cardiothoracic surgeries. Suitable for righties, lefties, adult sized patients and smaller ones too, this silver fox has the ability to hold or scrape away at ribs.
Duval Clamp – Also known as the Pennington clamp after Australian surgeon David Geoffrey Pennington, this tool is used mainly to grasp tissue without causing damage most commonly in intestinal, rectal, and OB/GYN procedures.
Fogarty Clamp – The Fogarty clamp is not just another atraumatic tissue gripper. This clamp is surfaced with rubber-shod serrated blades that allow for an atraumatic grip on tissues and blood vessels. This rubber-shod is a disposable piece and should not be reused for different patients.
Frazier Suction Tube – Invented and named after Michael Frazier, this thin tool is used for suctioning out fluids from cavities in the most precise way. The shaft is made of flexible material, to allow for different and bendable positions during the procedure. If left undealt with, fluids and other materials may begin to build up and hinder the process of surgery. With the Frazier suction tube, the wound is able to stay dry and clear, as the adjustable tool refrains from interfering.
Gerald’s forceps – Used on delicate vessels during vascular surgery, the non-toothed Gerald’s forceps are best for optimal precision–just look at those tips. Often used in cardiothoracic procedures, this tissue grasper comes in light to intermediate weight, and a stop peg to assure that tissues are delicately handled.
Jorgenson Scissors – Used for getting deep into tissues, these snappers come with a long handle and a curved blade for procedures such as hysterectomies.
Bulldog Clamp – This versatile tool comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, and curvatures that allow surgeons to reach difficult and distant blood vessels. This tool’s unique structure prevents excessive bleeding in the area of the procedure. When the handles are squeezed, the clamp opens up, and when the pressure is released, the clamp shuts down, therefore preventing patients from losing blood. Bulldog clamps can range from 2.5 cm to 5 cm in length and can be straight or curved.
Israel Retractor – The Israel retractor may not solve problems in the middle east, but it will handle heavy tissue in orthopedic surgeries. The blades resemble a rake, and, like most retractors, this tool is used to retain edges on an incision, wound, organ, or tissue.
Iris Scissors – These fine scissors with a very sharp tip are delegated to ophthalmic surgery, but can most likely be found being used during other medical procedures and as a part of autopsy tool kits and more. In fact, they are so easy and fun to use that they have made a name for themselves even in the world of non medical practices such as crafts. Both closed and open shank versions are available on the market. The goal with these is to keep them as sharp as possible, which will make the craft or surgery process more precise. Those interested in using these scissors can find a pair suitable for the right or left hand, for optimal control. It is important to keep the moving parts oiled and those used for medical purposes must be sterilized with antiseptic soap and an autoclave, and stored in a safe place, possibly with the tips covered.
Mosquito Clamp – Think small. The mosquito clamp is typically found to be between 3 inches to 5 inches in length, and is considered to be one of the smaller hemostatic forceps. These clamps are one of many hemostatic forceps, and no, they are not used to catch mosquitos, but small blood vessels in order to control bleeding. Mosquito forceps, with their blunt grip, manage small blood vessels but are not set out to do any damage or trauma. Tips may be straight or curved, but regardless of the shape, these clamps, along with most hemostatic forceps, will most likely include a locking feature that will allow doctors to work with more liberty. These instruments will most likely be found in stainless steel or carbon steel, in which case they will be able to be reused after sterilization. In other cases, the tool may be found in disposable plastic, but will only be able to used once.
Kelly Clamp – The Kelly clamp, which is much more elongated, and also known as the Rochester Pean, is used to clamp larger vessels and tissue. Mosquito clamps are considered to be smaller and daintier types of Kelly forceps, which have the same function but aim at larger sized vessels and tissues during procedures. These too are typically made from stainless steel, or other forms of high quality steel, and should be sterilized in hot water and chemicals, if they are to be reused. They can also be found in reusable plastic but should only be used once in this form.
Burlisher Clamp – Can you tell the difference between this clamp and the others? Also known as the Adson forcep and the Schnidt tonsil forcep, this instrument is used to clamp deep blood vessels. The burlisher has two closed finger rings, and if they are found with an open finger ring, the tool would be known as a tonsil hemostat.
Tonsil Hemostats – Similar to the burlisher clamp, which has two closed finger rings, the tonsil hemostat has open finger rings and a catch for locking the blades. These forceps are able to control hemorrhage by getting a grip on the end of blood vessels. Used both in general surgery as well as neurosurgery, these forceps are typically found at a length of seven to nine inches, formed completely with stainless steel. The goal for a surgeon is to perform an operation with little to no tissue damage, in which case the tonsil hemostat forcep is the perfect tool, as the two finger rings make handling the instrument an easy task. In tonsil related operations, the tool is used to remove affected pieces when necessary.
Right Angle Forceps – You guessed it. This tool features a right angle to reach vessels that are out of the way and to place sutures in particular places in relation to vessels.
Hurd Dissector – This two-faced tool, also known as the Hurd tonsil dissector and Pillar retractor is a double ended tool used in oral procedures and tonsillectomies. One side has a retractor lip end, while the other side is a sharp and rounded end for dissecting.