Forceps are portable medical instruments used to hold objects, with different types for different purposes. Locking pliers, such as hemostats and needle holders, are used during surgeries. Obstetrical forceps are used to deliver babies, but only when natural childbirth is not possible.
Forceps are a portable, hinged medical instrument used to hold objects. Outside of the medical profession, similar tools are referred to by many different names, including tweezers, pincers, and pincers. Some forceps hinge at one end, like tweezers, while others hinge in the middle, like scissors. They can be made from a variety of materials depending on their intended use.
Pliers can be locking or non-locking. The non-locking variety, also called a thumb grip, is used to grip things for only a short time. They may have flat, serrated, or dotted gripping surfaces. Serrated tips are used to grip body tissue, as they allow for a firm grip with less pressure, making them gentler on body tissue.
Locking pliers, also called clamps, are usually hinged in the center and have teeth interlocking between the finger grips. Clamps are used to hold objects in place for an extended period of time. Some specialized types are the hemostat, used to hold an artery closed to prevent bleeding, and the needle holder, used to facilitate sutures, or stitches, in body tissue. Needle holders often have curved ends, which allow the needle to be positioned at the correct angle. Both hemostats and needle holders are commonly used during surgeries.
One of the most used hemostats is the Kelly or Rochester forceps, a stainless steel instrument that can be sterilized between uses. A smaller version of the tool, known as the Mosquito, can be used for more delicate work, while the Carmalt is longer and heavier. Disposable forceps are often made of plastic and supplied sterile packed.
Obstetrical forceps are a specialized instrument used to deliver babies. The gripping ends are broad, long, and curved rather than meeting on a flat surface. They are placed gently around baby’s head to guide him out.
In the modern era, this type of birth is used only when the baby’s head has already entered the pelvic cavity. It is a risky procedure and is only used if natural childbirth is not possible for some reason. Complications may include bruising of the birth canal or baby, tears in the vagina, and a fractured skull or nerve damage in the baby. However, it is quicker and less invasive than emergency C-section (C-section).
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