- Works by passing electrical current or radio waves through the tissue
- Provides surgeon with more control over bleeding
- May also be used to cauterize bleeding tissue or vessels
- units may be small, battery powered, or larger and more powerful
- Larger units have a variety of settings for cutting, cauterizing, and coagulation of tissue
- Ideal for patients where bleeding even small amounts of blood loss would be dangerous (avian,
reptile, small mammals)
Electrosurgical unit
Precautions of electrosurgery - Poor contact between the patient and ground plate may cause
burns. *the patient needs to be well grounded. (Don't place under delicate tissues!)*
- Do not use near alcohol
- Area needs to be dry prior to cauterizing (blot away all blood and fluids)
Scissors - Uses: Cutting tissue, sutures, wire, or bandage materials
, - Named according to purpose, shape of blades, and whether the blades are straight or curved
- Can be Sharp-Sharp, Sharp-Blunt, or Blunt-Blunt
Mayo scissors For heavy duty cutting
Metzenbaum scissors For delicate cutting and direction (such as a spay)
Littauer scissors - Not used for cutting wires
Wire cutting scissors
Sharp-Sharp Surgical Scissors
Lister bandage scissors
Utility scissors
Needle Holders - Holding and driving curved suture needles and tying suture material
- Named according to shape of tips and whether or not scissors are present
- Have jaws, a (box) hinge, and locking device (ratchet) to securely hold needle and prevent twisting
and finger rings
- Frequently have tungsten carbide inserts in jaws that is resistant to wear and can be replaced when
worn (usually indicated by gold handles)
How to grip needle holders 1. Place thumb in first ring
2. Place index finger near the hinge
3. Place middle finger above the second ring
4. Place ring finger in second ring
Needle holder anatomy
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller CertifiedGrades. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
