LAT Chapter 13 Sx Instruments

Introduction to Surgical Instruments and Materials

• Quality surgical instruments are expensive and can deteriorate rapidly if mishandled.

• Laboratory animal technicians should be familiar with commonly used instruments and how to clean and sterilize them.

• Surgery on laboratory animals is a common procedure in biomedical research.

• Forceps are tweezer-like instruments used for compressing, securing, or grasping tissue or dressings.

• Hemostatic forceps are designed to clamp onto bleeding tissue containing a severed vessel.

• Allis tissue forceps exert minimal damage to tissues while providing a strong grip.

• Needle holders secure the needles used to suture tissues closed and are used for knot tying.

• Surgical needles are described by their shaft shape and point type of the tip.

• Suture materials must be strong yet pliable, easily sterilized, and cause minimal reactions in the body.

• Suture materials can be made from natural or synthetic materials and can be absorbable or nonabsorbable.

• Suture materials are sized by their diameter using a numbering system established by the United States Pharmacopeia.

• In place of sutures, wound clips or surgical adhesives can be used for skin wound closure.Surgical Instruments and Sterilization Techniques

• Surgical instruments are categorized by their function and structure, such as scissors, retractors, and dental instruments.

• Scissors can be blunt-blunt, blunt-sharp, or sharp-sharp, and are designed for specific purposes like dissecting tissue or cutting sutures.

• Retractors are used to increase exposure of a surgical site, and can be handheld or self-retaining with wide, curved or angled blades.

• Dental instruments, like scalers, elevators, and forceps, are used for treating diseased or fractured teeth and performing extractions.

• All surgical instruments must be cleaned immediately after use to prevent materials from adhering to them and causing damage, and should be given individual attention during the cleaning process.

• Sterilization methods for surgical instruments and materials include autoclave, ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide plasma, dry heat, or liquid sterilants.

• Autoclave sterilization is the most common method for wrapped packs, while gas sterilization is used for heat-sensitive items like plastics and electronics.

• Sterilization methods require proper cleaning, arrangement, spacing, and labeling of packs to ensure effectiveness, and indicators are used to show proper sterilization has occurred.

• Glass bead sterilizers are used for quickly resterilizing metal surgical instruments, but only the tips should come into contact with living tissue.

• Liquid chemical sterilization is used for heat-sensitive instruments and devices that can be immersed in liquid, but some agents like aldehydes can be irritating to tissues and cause respiratory illnesses.

• When performing multiple rodent surgeries, instruments should be initially autoclaved, cleaned after each surgery, and resterilized before contact with the next animal.

• Proficiency in using surgical instruments for tissue handling and wound closure is essential for technicians performing rodent surgeries.

Surgical Instruments and Materials

• Surgical instruments are expensive and require specialized knowledge for proper maintenance.

• Laboratory animal technicians performing surgery must be familiar with commonly used instruments.

• Thumb forceps are used for compressing, securing, or grasping tissue or dressings.

• Hemostatic forceps are designed to clamp onto bleeding tissue containing a severed vessel.

• Allis tissue forceps exert minimal damage to tissues while providing a strong grip.

• Needles are sharp instruments used for suturing and are described by their shaft shape and point type.

• Suture material must be strong yet pliable, easily sterilized, and cause minimal reactions in the body.

• Suture materials may be made from natural materials, like silk or collagen, or from synthetics.

• Absorbable sutures are broken down and assimilated by the body over time, while nonabsorbable sutures remain in the body permanently when placed in tissues below the skin.

• Suture materials are sized by their diameter using a numbering system established by the United States Pharmacopeia.

• Wound clips can be used in place of sutures to close skin incisions.

• A surgical adhesive is another option for skin wound closure.Guide to Surgical Instruments and Sterilization

• Surgical instruments are tools used in surgical procedures to manipulate, cut, or remove tissue.

• Scissors come in three types: blunt-blunt, blunt-sharp, and sharp-sharp, and are designed for specific purposes such as dissecting, cutting sutures, and removing sutures.

• Retractors are used to increase exposure of a surgical site and come in hand-held and self-retaining types with wide, curved or angled blades to minimize tissue trauma.

• Dental instruments include scalers for removing calculus and elevators for performing dental extractions with a small narrow blade at the tip.

• All surgical instruments must be cleaned after use to remove microorganisms, blood, and tissue debris to prevent corrosion and rusting and to maintain their function.

• The cleaning process involves separating sharps and delicate instruments, using a soft brush and a pH-neutral detergent, and disassembling instruments with removable parts.

• Sterilization methods for wrapped instrument packs include autoclave, ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide plasma, dry heat, or liquid sterilants.

• Effective sterilization depends on properly functioning equipment and sufficient temperature, pressure, and exposure time and requires cleaning all instruments and materials prior to sterilization.

• Glass bead sterilizers utilize dry heat sterilization and are used to quickly re-sterilize metal surgical instruments.

• Liquid chemical sterilization is used for heat-sensitive surgical instruments and medical devices that can be immersed in liquid, but some agents can be irritating to tissues and workers.

• Instruments must be rinsed thoroughly with sterile saline before allowing them to come in contact with the animal.

• Proper maintenance and sterilization of surgical instruments and materials are crucial to prevent infections and ensure successful surgical outcomes.

• Becoming proficient in using surgical instruments for tissue handling and wound closure is important for technicians performing rodent surgeries.

Surgical Instruments and Materials

• Surgical instruments are expensive and require specialized knowledge for proper maintenance.

• Laboratory animal technicians performing surgery must be familiar with commonly used instruments.

• Thumb forceps are used for compressing, securing, or grasping tissue or dressings.

• Hemostatic forceps are designed to clamp onto bleeding tissue containing a severed vessel.

• Allis tissue forceps exert minimal damage to tissues while providing a strong grip.

• Needles are sharp instruments used for suturing and are described by their shaft shape and point type.

• Suture material must be strong yet pliable, easily sterilized, and cause minimal reactions in the body.

• Suture materials may be made from natural materials, like silk or collagen, or from synthetics.

• Absorbable sutures are broken down and assimilated by the body over time, while nonabsorbable sutures remain in the body permanently when placed in tissues below the skin.

• Suture materials are sized by their diameter using a numbering system established by the United States Pharmacopeia.

• Wound clips can be used in place of sutures to close skin incisions.

• A surgical adhesive is another option for skin wound closure.Guide to Surgical Instruments and Sterilization

• Surgical instruments are tools used in surgical procedures to manipulate, cut, or remove tissue.

• Scissors come in three types: blunt-blunt, blunt-sharp, and sharp-sharp, and are designed for specific purposes such as dissecting, cutting sutures, and removing sutures.

• Retractors are used to increase exposure of a surgical site and come in hand-held and self-retaining types with wide, curved or angled blades to minimize tissue trauma.

• Dental instruments include scalers for removing calculus and elevators for performing dental extractions with a small narrow blade at the tip.

• All surgical instruments must be cleaned after use to remove microorganisms, blood, and tissue debris to prevent corrosion and rusting and to maintain their function.

• The cleaning process involves separating sharps and delicate instruments, using a soft brush and a pH-neutral detergent, and disassembling instruments with removable parts.

• Sterilization methods for wrapped instrument packs include autoclave, ethylene oxide gas, hydrogen peroxide plasma, dry heat, or liquid sterilants.

• Effective sterilization depends on properly functioning equipment and sufficient temperature, pressure, and exposure time and requires cleaning all instruments and materials prior to sterilization.

• Glass bead sterilizers utilize dry heat sterilization and are used to quickly re-sterilize metal surgical instruments.

• Liquid chemical sterilization is used for heat-sensitive surgical instruments and medical devices that can be immersed in liquid, but some agents can be irritating to tissues and workers.

• Instruments must be rinsed thoroughly with sterile saline before allowing them to come in contact with the animal.

• Proper maintenance and sterilization of surgical instruments and materials are crucial to prevent infections and ensure successful surgical outcomes.

• Becoming proficient in using surgical instruments for tissue handling and wound closure is important for technicians performing rodent surgeries.