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How to Select the Appropriate Surgical Tool Kit?
One of the most important aspects of surgery is having the correct tools for the job. Without them, there is a high probability that the surgery will be a failure. To ensure that you have the right tools, you need to consider all the factors relating to your surgery. There are certain basic questions that you can start with. These are:
#1. Type of Procedure
The kind of procedure you are performing is a major deciding factor on the kind of tools you may need to perform it. You can find surgical tool kit options for various procedures at your medical supplier to ensure that you have everything you may need in your arsenal.
#2. Size of Subject
The size of the subject also makes a big difference. Operating on a finger would require differently sized tools that operating on a stomach would. This would also affect the duration, precision, and ease of the surgery.
#3. Frequency of Use
The frequency at which you will require your tool is an important factor to consider when deciding the material of your surgical tool kit. Getting materials that are bound to stay sharp and functioning for longer such as titanium or tungsten carbide can make a huge difference when choosing the tool.
After considering the above factors, your decision should be a whole lot clearer to you. The next step is to look at the types of surgical tools available in the market to see what you may require.
#4. Types of Surgical Instruments
Most of the surgical instruments found in a general surgical tool kit can be used for most surgeries. The instruments surgeons use can be roughly categorized as:
#5. Cutting Instruments
Cutting instruments are instruments that have two blades joined at a pivot point to slide against each other and cut material that comes between them. These can also include one very sharp blade. Common examples include surgical scissors and knives. There are certain points to consider when selecting scissors. These are:
- Fine tip scissors are a good choice for surgery in small and restricted spaces. The can be used as ambidextrous scissors and are perfect for ophthalmological procedures. You can also make quick and accurate cuts while minimizing tissue damage with the sharp blades used here.
- Scissors with curved tips are perfect when you need to avoid cutting the underlying tissues.
- Heavier scissors are ideal for thicker tissues and vessels.
- The length of the scissor tip should be the same as the depth of the cut or incision you desire to make.
- Spring scissors are ambidextrous scissors which can be used in neurosurgery and microsurgery.
- Scissors that have black handles are known to be serrated and also have tungsten carbide inside their blades.
- Tungsten carbide and titanium scissors are much more durable than simple stainless steel scissors and they also stay sharp for much longer.
#6. Grasping Instruments
Several surgical tool kits come ready with several grasping forceps. These are primarily divided into ring forceps and thumb forceps. When you are selecting the right forceps for the job, here are a few pointers you should consider:
- Reverse forceps have a self-closing mechanism which makes it easy to have uniform tension in the surgery. You need to push them down to make them open and then grasp on the tissue.
- Ceramic tipped forceps are ideal for grasping tissues since they are non-porous, heat and corrosion resistant, and are also good insulators for when working near electrical equipment.
- Straight tips on forceps ensure that your work is precise as can be, while curved tips provide more visibility of the object or tissue.
#7. Retracting Instruments
These are instruments primarily meant to hold a wound open while surgery is being conducted. It can also be used to temporarily enlarge incisions and make the tissue more clearly visible underneath it. Pointers to consider while choosing them include:
- Most retractors will usually be held in place by a robot or an assistant, so find one that is compatible with your case.
- There are self-retaining refractors which have a mechanism to hold tissue in place during the surgery and allow a hands-free operation. These usually have a screw or clamp that can hold the tissue by itself, but are only recommended for procedures where the surgeon needs to work alone.
- Wire retractors are the simplest of all and require to be pinched together to hold the tissue and can then be released. These are also meant to free up the surgeon’s hands when performing a solo surgery.
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