Most surgical procedures use a knife as the primary means of cutting and dissecting tissue. While there are many different types of tools that can be used in surgery, the knife remains one of the most popular due to its precision and versatility. As a medical professional, one must know the importance of using the right tools for the clinical procedure. That’s why it’s so important to use a surgical knife that is sharp and precise. A dull knife can lead to complications and extended surgery times. Hospitals must carry only the highest quality surgical knives to make sure your surgery goes smoothly.
The specialized knives are designed for the delicate task of surgery. In addition to its precision, a surgical knife also offers other benefits, such as a sterile environment and durability. The surgical knife is a critical tool in precision surgery. Its sharp blade allows the surgeon to make precise cuts and incisions, while its delicate construction ensures that it can be used with great accuracy. The surgical knife’s many applications make it an indispensable part of any surgical suite.
Thanks to the surgical knives of equipment suppliers, clinicians are able to carry out procedures with pinpoint accuracy, ensuring a successful outcome for the patient. With the advent of modern technology, the surgical knife is still integral to performing many surgeries. While there are now newer technologies available, the surgical knife is still relied on by many surgeons for its accuracy and reliability.
THE BENEFITS OF USING A SURGICAL KNIFE IN PRECISION SURGERY
Surgical knives are the backbone of surgery. It is impossible to treat the internal organs of a patient without having to use the knife. With appropriate knowledge and correct technique, it can be successfully used in a surgical procedure.
Knives serve multiple purposes in healthcare and surgery. Some of the benefits of clinical knives in precision surgery include ;
For making incisions in skin and muscles. They are used in abdominal operations. They are used for precision cutting, stripping, sharp angle cuts, stencil cutting, for debriding hard skin like callus that is seen on hands and feet. Knives with downward angle are preferred for working within the chest during cardiac surgeries. There are also knives from various hospital equipment suppliers that are used to make an arteriotomy during coronary artery bypass surgery, for enucleation of lesions such as corns and for scoring and etching.
The benefits in precise surgery include : for narrow cuts, for deep cuts, scraping, for surgery of bones, skin incisions in thoracic surgery and to cut the bronchus in lung resection surgery. Other benefits include making stab incisions to insert drains, removing sutures, relieving abscesses, cut sections or slices of tissues and organs like in biopsy procedures, cut open internal organs like kidney and gallbladder for removing stones, in surgeries for removing cataract, for amputation.
MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING OF MEDICAL KNIVES
The knife and its variants are of multiple uses clinically. These may be reusable or disposable. They are usually composed of 2 parts – blade and handle. Many materials may be used to manufacture them, these include hardened steel, tempered steel, stainless steel and high carbon steel etc.
For surgery, the instruments needed must be sterile and not just disinfected, to prevent chances of sepsis or infection. The various methods of maintenance and cleaning of surgical knives include:
a) Rinsing : Immediately after a surgery, the knives should be rinsed under warm water to remove any blood and tissue debris. b) Cleaning : It is preferably done immediately after rinsing. It can be carried out via : Ultrasonic cleaning, automatic washer sterilizers and manual cleaning – a less preferred method these days. Stiff brushes and neutral detergents should also be used. Special care must be taken by the cleaner to not get cut by any of the knives. c) After cleaning : Here, instruments are air dried.
In modern medical facilities, to increase the life and use of our surgical instruments such as knives they must be clean and should be maintained within the proper guidelines from the clinical equipment supplier and manufacturer.
PRECAUTIONS TO BE TAKEN WHILE USING HOSPITAL KNIVES
Surgical knives are instruments with very sharp edges, hence they have to be used very carefully by the clinician in order to prevent injury to themselves or the patient. Following are the measures to be undertaken while working with them :
Using the correct technique is the cornerstone of all accident prevention. The knife, which is most commonly used for straight incisions, is held like a violin bow. This allows the medical professionals to modulate the depth of the incision by feel and by vision. Making a skin incision with a single smooth stroke instead of multiple small ones causes less trauma to the tissue. Some knives are held like a pencil allowing the curve of the blade to come in contact with the skin. Never use a knife without a handle. Using it without the handle can lead to major inaccuracies and ill formed incisions.
Use a disposable one when possible. Prefer the ones with fixed blades. Reusable instruments pose fear of infection. One must use a reusable hospital knife, and make sure it is sterilized and has safety features that allow it to enclose the blade prior to removal.
The surgical knife is an important tool in the field of precision surgery. It is crucial that the surgical knife be maintained and cleaned properly, and precautions must be taken while using it to ensure patient safety. In order to maintain the sharpness of the blade and ensure that it functions properly, it is important to take precautions while using it. By following the proper procedures, medical professionals can ensure that their surgical knives remain sharp and precise.