What’s a cross clamp?

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A cross clamp is a surgical instrument used to isolate the heart from the rest of the body’s circulation during procedures on and around the heart. This results in a state known as cardioplegia, in which the heart doesn’t beat. In surgeries where the heart needs to be stopped, there are a number of risks, which are addressed by keeping the surgery as short as possible and taking protective measures such as cooling the heart to prevent damage associated with ischemia, where blood does not flow through the heart. ‘organ . The alternative is beating heart surgery, where the heart is allowed to beat freely and the surgeon works around it, but this option may not always be available.

Also known as an aortic cross clamp, this tool is designed to be clamped onto the aorta to stop blood flow from the heart. Depending on the type of procedure, it may be left on continuously or the surgeon may use a technique called cross-clamp fibrillation, in which the clamp is periodically relaxed to allow the heart to reperfuse with blood. The surgical team monitors the patient during surgery for any signs of distress and usually supervises a cardiothoracic surgeon.

There are some risks with the cross clamp. One is the damage caused by ischemia, as tissue will die if deprived of oxygen long enough. Cooling the heart first reduces this risk, as cold slows the rate of damage. Patients can also develop clots, potentially leading to a blockage of a vein or a stroke. Also, sometimes release of the clamp results in a reperfusion injury and removal of the clamp must be done with care.

Like other surgical instruments, the cross clamp is made of surgical steel, a steel product specially developed for use in operating rooms. This steel is strong, with some flexibility to keep it from cracking under stress. It resists rust and can also withstand very hot and cold temperatures, allowing people to use it in refrigerated procedures and to autoclave it between surgeries.

After the surgery, all tools are counted to confirm that everything used in the surgery has been accounted for. They are soaked in an antiseptic solution and washed before being packaged for an autoclave, a device that uses high heat to kill infectious organisms. Autoclaved medical instruments are safe for use in new patients, and the instruments can remain in use for years or even decades.

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