obstetric forceps

obstetric forceps,

forceps used to assist delivery of the fetal head. They vary in weight, length, shape, and mechanism of action, but all consist of a pair of instruments comprising a handle, a shank, and a blade. The blade is curved and sometimes has openings. The shank is long enough to allow the blade to reach the fetal head. The several styles of forceps are designed to assist in various clinical situations. The station of the fetus in the pelvis, the position of the head in relation to the pelvis, the size of the fetus, and the preference of the operator all affect the choice of forceps. Kinds of obstetric forceps include Barton forceps, Elliot forceps, Kielland's forceps, and Simpson forceps. See also forceps delivery.

---

forceps [for´seps] (L.)

a two-bladed instrument with a handle, used for compressing or grasping tissues in surgical operations, handling sterile dressings, and other purposes.

alligator forceps a grasping forceps with a scissorlike handle and blades opening in a vertical plane similar to the jaws of an alligator.

bayonet forceps a forceps whose blades are offset from the axis of the handle.

capsule forceps a forceps for removing the lens capsule in cataract.

Chamberlen forceps the original form of obstetric forceps, invented in the sixteenth century.

clamp forceps a forceps-like clamp with an automatic lock, for compressing arteries or other structures.

dressing forceps forceps with scissor-like handles for grasping lint, drainage tubes, etc., in dressing wounds.

Magill forceps forceps used to introduce an endotracheal tube into the trachea during nasotracheal intubation.

obstetric forceps forceps for extracting the fetal head from the maternal passages.

Obstetric forceps and their application. From McKinney et al., 2000.

rongeur forceps a forceps designed for use in cutting bone.

thumb forceps a forceps with serrated blades and with or without teeth.

tissue forceps a forceps without teeth or with one or more small teeth at the end of each blade, designed for handling tissues with minimal trauma during surgery.

---

forceps

pl. forcipes [L.] a two-bladed instrument with a handle for compressing or grasping tissues in surgical operations, and for handling sterile dressings, etc.

---

alligator forceps

strong toothed forceps having a double clamp. Long-handled with short jaws at the end of a long shank. Designed for grasping in an enclosed space, e.g. removing grass seeds from ear canals.

bayonet forceps

a forceps whose blades are offset from the axis of the handle.

bone-cutting forceps

have cutting blades and may be double-action.

bone-holding forceps

designed to grip bones or fragments.

capsule forceps

a forceps for removing the lens capsule in cataract.

clamp forceps

a forceps-like clamp with an automatic lock, for compressing arteries, etc.

dressing forceps

finger- and thumb-operated spring forceps used for general grasping of tissues, dressings; there is a great variety of tips available to the blades. Called also thumb forceps.

grasping forceps

includes tissue, sponge, towel, vulsellum forceps.

hemostatic forceps

used to clamp the ends of vessels and establish hemostasis or to cross clamp a vascular pedicle. See also crile hemostatic forceps, halsted mosquito forceps, kelly-murphy forceps, rochester-carmalt forceps.

obstetric forceps

forceps for extracting the fetal head from the maternal passages.

rongeur forceps

a forceps designed for use in cutting bone.

sponge forceps

see foerster sponge forceps.

thumb forceps

for holding tissue with the left hand while using another instrument in the right hand (or vice versa for the sinistral surgeon). Called also tissue forceps.

tissue forceps

includes adson tissue forceps, alligator forceps (see above), allis tissue forceps, babcock forceps, knowles forceps, rightangle forceps, vulsella.

towel forceps

spring clips with middle crossover and spring at end. Inward curving, sharp pointed tips. Used to fix drapes to tissue with minimal trauma. Also usable as light tissue forceps or rib approximators in small animals.

transfer forceps

a sterile grasping instrument, used to move surgical instruments, blades, needles and suture material to the instrument table at surgery.