Surgery is a very meticulous process requiring great care and attention. A human being’s life is at stake, and it is entirely up to the surgeon whether the patient will emerge better from the surgery or not. That is why it is necessary that the surgeon be equipped will all kinds of instruments that he/she may require during the procedure, and they be made easily accessible. While the quality of work produced depends more on the holder of the instrument, but the instruments also have to be in perfect condition so that they perform their due function rather than causing damage. Let’s talk about some of the various instruments that have very important roles to play in a surgical procedure.
1 – Scalpel
A scalpel is the first instrument held by a surgeon at the start of a procedure. This is because it is used to produce the incision that parts the skin, allowing for deeper penetration. It can be further used to clear away the fascia, fat, or muscle on the way to reaching a body cavity. It has a very sharp blade so a little force exerted can produce a very sharp cut.
2 – Surgical Sutures
These are used to reverse the damage incurred by the scalpel. These join the two ends of the separated skin flaps together, closing the connection between the body’s internal environment and the harmful external environment. They can be absorbable or non-absorbable, with the latter used to close the skin wounds or incisions and the former used on the internal organs.
3 – Surgical Staples
These have a similar functionality to that of the sutures, just used in different situations. They are preferred in emergency situations when the bleeding has to be stopped urgently. They hold the skin much tighter than the sutures, but are not preferred in normal procedures.
4 – Hemostat
This is a kind of scissor, but with a blunt end rather than a sharp one used for cutting. It is used for clamping or closing a blood vessel during a surgery to prevent loss of blood. The clamping cuts off the flow of blood, and allows the surgeon to concentrate on the task at hand without being bothered by the hazards of hemorrhaging.
5 – Dilator
With an appropriate name pointing out its function, the dilator is used to dilate or open any closed passage to allow the surgeon to access the structures within or reach the organ of interest. It is used on mostly tubular structures like the urethra, or is often used to dilate the cervix during gynecological procedures.
6 – Scissors
As there are many layers of tissue underneath the skin that have to be penetrated before reaching a body cavity, scissors also play an important role during a surgery. They are used to clear away the tissues, with the Metzenbaum used for softer tissues, while the Mayo is used for harder to cut tissues like joints or muscles. Care has to be taken to not damage any nerve or blood vessel as the scissor end is sharp, so can easily lacerate a vessel and result in extensive hemorrhage.