What are the Key Points to Differentiate Between Forceps & Hemostats?

Surgeons, in particular, require a wide range of tools to carry out their duties. A physician requires many other instruments, usually more than one, to complete a surgery. Forceps and hemostats are two essential tools. Many surgical procedures would be impossible to perform without them.

Forceps

Forceps are either tweezer-like implements or scissors-like tools to grasp objects, forceps that resemble tweezers are pinched in the center to make the tips meet. Other forceps pivots in the same way that scissors do, but have a locking ratchet on the inside of the handles that causes the forceps to lock. Some forceps have smooth tips, while others have ridged tips for a firm grip. Forceps are available in a variety of sizes and tips. They are typically made of a stainless steel alloy, though plastic forceps are occasionally used. Each type serves a distinct purpose in assisting surgeons in all areas of the human body.

• When a physician is unable to touch sterile bandaging, forceps can be utilized.
• During procedures or in regions where the fingers cannot reach or fit, forceps can also hold onto small bits of tissue.
• The tip of intestinal forceps is quite long and thin. Its purpose was to protect the intestines from harm while restricting the bowels.
• One more type of forcep was created to hold organs such as the bladder in place.

Hemostatic Forceps

Hemostatic forceps, also known as hemostats or clamps are types of forceps. It’s made to look like a pair of scissors, but it doesn’t cut. They are commonly used to grasp blood vessels or clamp and hold tissue or vessels. The instruments’ lengths range from 3 to 9 inches, and they have grooved jaws that provide holding and crushing power. Most hemostats have grooves that run the length of the jaws, a few have grooves that run longitudinally, and a few have a combination of grooves. Each instrument has a ratchet or box lock that allows it to be locked and left in place. Straight or curved jaws are available on all hemostats. The size of the blood vessel or tissue bundle to be clamped determines the size of the clamp.

How it works

The first letter of the word, Hemo, is a Latin prefix that means “blood.” Hemostats come in a variety of shapes and sizes to accommodate all of the different types of blood vessels in the body. A hemostat’s primary function is to clamp and hold onto blood vessels. It is critical to seal off blood vessels during surgery to prevent the patient from bleeding to death.