Surgical Assisting Guide

Surgical Assisting Guide Roles and Responsibilities Surgical Instruments - Four categories of surgical instruments -Cutting instruments (Scalpels, scissors, lasers) - Hemostatic instruments (hemostatic forceps, clamps) - Retractors (Hand held, self-retaining) - Specialized Instruments (Ophthalmic, Orthopedic, Neurosurgical) Scalpel Handles/ Blades - #3 handle is most common - #4 handle used for large animal surgery - 10 and 15 blades most common blades used Electrosurgery - Cut and/or coagulate tissue simultaneously - Works by passing electrical current or radio waves through the tissue - Provides surgeon with more control over bleeding - May also be used to cauterize bleeding tissue or vessels - units may be small, battery powered, or larger and more powerful - Larger units have a variety of settings for cutting, cauterizing, and coagulation of tissue - Ideal for patients where bleeding even small amounts of blood loss would be dangerous (avian, reptile, small mammals) Electrosurgical unit Precautions of electrosurgery - Poor contact between the patient and ground plate may cause burns. *the patient needs to be well grounded. (Don't place under delicate tissues!)* - Do not use near alcohol - Area needs to be dry prior to cauterizing (blot away all blood and fluids) Scissors - Uses: Cutting tissue, sutures, wire, or bandage materials - Named according to purpose, shape of blades, and whether the blades are straight or curved - Can be Sharp-Sharp, Sharp-Blunt, or Blunt-Blunt Mayo scissors For heavy duty cutting Metzenbaum scissors Littauer scissors For delicate cutting and direction (such as a spay) - Not used for cutting wires Wire cutting scissors Sharp-Sharp Surgical Scissors Lister bandage scissors Utility scissors Needle Holders - Holding and driving curved suture needles and tying suture material - Named according to shape of tips and whether or not scissors are present - Have jaws, a (box) hinge, and locking device (ratchet) to securely hold needle and prevent twisting and finger rings - Frequently have tungsten carbide inserts in jaws that is resistant to wear and can be replaced when worn (usually indicated by gold handles) How to grip needle holders 1. Place thumb in first ring 2. Place index finger near the hinge 3. Place middle finger above the second ring 4. Place ring finger in second ring Needle holder anatomy Mayo-Hegar - Has NO scissors Olsen-Hegar Thumb forceps - Has scissors - Holding and easily releasing tissue like tweezers *Don't call them tweezers!* - Named according to purpose, shape of jaws, and tip Adson-Bro