• least traumatic way to divide tissues
• best to incise dense tissues, tissues that can hold under tension while incising
• main cutting tool

Mayo scissors

Heavier tissues (linea alba, thick fascia)

Metzenbaum scissors

Fine tissues, blunt dissection (subcutaneous, light fascia)

Thumb forceps

Holds tissue

Standard tissue forceps

Holds tissue by penetration, less crushing injury than thumb forceps, less pressure required for secure hold

Adson tissue forceps

Secure grasp with minimal crushing

Small for small animals

Brown-Adson tissue forceps

Delicate, secure grasp

Good to manipulate small needles

Debakey-thoracic tissue forceps

To atraumatically manipulate vessels, fine tissue, needles

Allis tissue forceps

Secure hold for long periods

Traumatic, for tissues being excised

Babcock tissue forceps

Less traumatic than Allis, but less secure hold

Mayo-Hegar needle holders

Secure, durable

To grasp needles

Olson-Hegar needle holders

To place and cut suture

Less durable, may accidentally cut suture

Halstead mosquito hemostatic forceps

Pinpoint control of small bleeding vessels

Crile hemostatic forceps

Grasp larger vessels or tissues

Rochester-Carmalt hemostatic forceps

Large, crushing, for pedicles

Secure grasp, minimal potential to cut during removal

Backhaus towel clamps

Penetrate skin and drape

Secure hold, minimal crush

Edna or Lorna towel clamps

Secures ancillary equipment to drapes

Secure hold, doesn't perforate drape

Crushing if used on skin