What is a surgical clamp?

Surgical clamps are tools used by surgeons and healthcare workers to interrupt blood flow or other fluids during surgery. These tools are used in hospital operating rooms, during many outpatient procedures, as well as in the field of emergency doctors (EMT) and rescuers. There are a number of styles and sizes of surgical clamps that adapt to many applications and functions. The shape of the tip of each tool generally determines what can be used for, and many of them are designed for precise procedures.

Standard surgical clamp is lightweight and made of stainless steel for sterilization and utilitarian purposes. Most clamps can be held as scissors for easy application. The pantled jaws firmly grasp the tissue, container or organs. The handles are usually locked together with a series of interconnected teeth that allow the surgeon to select the amount of tension or locking pressure on the clamped tissue or organ. The lock also allows surgeons to leave the clamp on the set, hands-free, duringthe length of the procedure.

One of the most common surgical terminals is called haemstat. This clamp is used to align the cut area after the operation begins to stop the blood flow from the removed blood vessels. Although most commonly used to prevent bleeding, surgical clamps are also used to prevent other body fluids and bacteria during surgery. The slopes can join tissues together during repair or detain them outside the surgical location for easier access. Larger clamps can be used together to compress an organ or bulky tissue, while micro surgical clamps or clips are used for the smallest blood vessels and in the smallest classroom cases.

In addition to the hemstat, there are many clamping styles. Some peaks of surgical clamps form an angle of 90 degrees, while others are slightly curved or look like hooks. The bone clamp is robustly as a clamp,that was supposed to securely grasp and hold the bone. During circumcision, a surgical tool called Gomco clamp is used and looks more like a claw than scissors.

Rubber dam or tooth extraction pliers are clamps used by dentists. These clamps are made to fit into the oral cavity and grasp a small tooth. Another style of the terminal is the aortic cross clamp used during cardiac surgery. This terminal allows the surgeon to attach less stress on the aort and hopefully prevent further damage or neurological damage.