Surgical forceps

Surgical forceps are a type of medical instrument used in surgery and other medical procedures. They are handheld, hinged instruments used for grasping and holding objects. Forceps are used when fingers are too large to grasp small objects or when many objects need to be held at one time while the hands are used to perform a task.

History

The use of forceps in surgery has a long history, dating back to the time of Hippocrates in ancient Greece. They were originally made from bronze and were used for a variety of surgical procedures. The design and materials used to make surgical forceps have evolved over time, with modern forceps typically made from high-quality stainless steel.

Design

Surgical forceps come in a variety of designs, each suited to a specific purpose. Some forceps are designed for general use, while others are designed for specific surgical procedures. The two basic types of surgical forceps are locking and non-locking. Locking forceps are typically used as clamps, and non-locking forceps are used to grasp and manipulate tissues during surgery.

Use in Surgery

In surgery, forceps are used for a variety of tasks, including suturing, tissue manipulation, and removal of foreign bodies. They are also used in obstetrics for the delivery of babies, in dentistry for tooth extractions, and in ophthalmology for eye surgery.

Types of Surgical Forceps

There are many different types of surgical forceps, each designed for a specific use. Some of the most common types include:

• Allis forceps: Used to hold or grasp heavy tissue. They are also used to grasp fascia and soft tissues such as breast or bowel tissue.
• Adson forceps: Used to hold and manipulate delicate tissues. These forceps are often used in plastic surgery.
• Kelly forceps: Used for clamping large blood vessels or manipulating heavy tissue.
• Mosquito forceps: Used in small area surgery to clamp small blood vessels.
• Carmalt forceps: Used for clamping large tissue bundles and blood vessels.

See Also

• Medical instrument
• Surgery
• Locking forceps
• Allis forceps
• Adson forceps
• Kelly forceps
• Mosquito forceps
• Carmalt forceps