Surgical Instrumentation & Equipment Flashcards

Which retractor is self-retaining and commonly used to hold open a wound without an assistant?

Answer: Weitlaner retractor

The Weitlaner retractor is a self-retaining instrument with interlocking ratchet teeth that holds wound edges open without manual assistance.

A Bookwalter retractor system is best suited for which type of surgery?

Answer: Abdominal surgery

The Bookwalter is a table-mounted, self-retaining retractor system specifically designed for deep abdominal and pelvic exposure.

Which instrument is used to grasp and hold a needle during suturing?

Answer: Needle holder

A needle holder (needle driver) has a grooved jaw designed to grip a suture needle securely during placement.

The Kerrison rongeur is most commonly used during which procedure?

Answer: Laminectomy

The Kerrison rongeur is a spoon-shaped biting instrument used in spinal surgery to remove bone and ligament during laminectomy procedures.

Which forceps are most appropriate for handling delicate intestinal tissue?

Answer: DeBakey forceps

DeBakey forceps have atraumatic, longitudinally serrated tips designed to handle vascular and delicate intestinal tissue without crushing.

What is the primary purpose of a towel clamp (Backhaus clamp) in the sterile field?

Answer: Securing sterile drapes to the patient

Backhaus (towel) clamps have sharp, penetrating tips used to secure sterile drapes to the patient and to each other during draping.

Which electrosurgical unit (ESU) mode uses interrupted current and produces a cutting and coagulating effect simultaneously?

Answer: Blend mode

Blend mode on the ESU combines cutting current with coagulation current to simultaneously cut tissue and control bleeding.