The Essential Surgical Instrument Checklist — Equipping Your OR for Value and Quality 

Every operating room depends on well‑made, reliable instruments to support efficient, predictable performance. It all starts by selecting high-quality tools that enable surgical precision.

We’ve created this essential surgical instruments checklist to outline the core instruments every OR should have, making it easier to equip your team with dependable, high‑value solutions for any procedure.

Your OR Surgical Instruments Checklist

Each surgical instrument in your toolkit fulfills a specific purpose during a procedure, ensuring reliable operating where it matters most. All reusable surgical instruments consist of safe, durable surgical-grade stainless steel.

These tools are pivotal in your goal of making your OR as functional as possible, which is why you need to invest in high-quality and high-value general surgery instruments.

Scalpels

Scalpels are a staple in any OR surgical instruments kit. They’re thin, small knives used to create clean incisions that result in minimal tissue trauma. Top-quality German surgical stainless steel provides durability and precision. Also, various sizes accommodate different-sized blades, depending on your needs.

Your scalpel should feature a comfortable handle and a secure grip for smooth handling, ensuring safety for you and your patient. The following scalpel handles are ideal for most purposes.

• Scalpel handle #3: These handles enable fine, precise incisions and fit small pointed blades.
• Scalpel handle #4: For more control and strength, #4 handles are heavier and larger and use wider blades.
• Scalpel handle #7: A slim handle used for delicate or intricate work.
• Other handles: Specialized scalpel handles, such as the Bayonet, enhance visibility and access during procedures.

It’s also worth investing in a blade remover to switch blades safely when the time comes.

Scissors

Surgical scissors come in a range of designs, each shaped for a specific task — from cutting tissue and skin to trimming sutures and bandages. Made from high‑quality German surgical stainless steel, they offer durable, reusable performance in your OR.

Keep these scissor types in your inventory to prepare your team for any surgical scenario.

• Iris scissors: Eye surgeons rely on these small, sharp-pointed scissors, which are also suitable for microsurgeries.
• Mayo scissors: These sturdy, general-purpose scissors are excellent for cutting tissues or sutures.
• Metzenbaum scissors: Ideal for delicate work, these thin, long scissors are perfect for dissection and cutting fine tissues.
• Operating/surgical scissors: These are general-purpose scissors used for dissection and cutting sutures or bandages.
• Stitch/suture scissors: These specialized scissors have a small notch to lift and cut threads when removing sutures.
• Bandage scissors: As the name suggests, these cut bandages.

Maintaining your surgical scissors is essential in prolonging their lifespan. Complete post-use rinsing, thorough sterilization, regular hinge lubrication, damage inspections and precision sharpening to keep the instruments in optimal condition.

Forceps

Forceps handle, grasp or extract tissue or materials during surgery. These tweezer-like instruments also come in different types for various uses, each serving an essential purpose during a procedure. They feature fine tips and controlled jaw pressure to avoid damage to tissue.

Include these forceps types in your OR.

• Sponge forceps: Specialized forceps with looped, jagged jaws designed to hold and manipulate sponges, dressings and swabs during surgery.
• Tissue forceps: Used to hold or maneuver tissues within the operating site.
• Plain forceps: Also known as thumb forceps, these are non-toothed forceps used in general surgery and minor procedures to remove foreign items or debris from wounds.
• Suture forceps: These have a unique design that lets them grasp suture needles or pass and tie the suture thread.

Clamps

Clamps compress and control tubing and vessels and hold tissue in place to allow visibility and unobstructed operating sites. They’re different from forceps due to their locking ratchet mechanism for hands-free clamping. These tools can either be curved or straight, depending on the application.

• Curved: Angled jaws designed to navigate confined areas and maneuver around structures.
• Straight: Straight jaws for superficial tissues, large vessels or surgical areas.

Like forceps, different clamps serve specific purposes.

• Kelly clamps: The clamps feature partially serrated jaws and a ratcheting lock. They serve many different functions, like controlling bleeding, stabilizing tissue and suturing assistance. They are preferable for use on larger vessels and arteries.
• Crile clamps: Similar to Kelly clamps, Crile clamps have a full-length serrated jaw used for clamping smaller vessels and for more precision and control during procedures.
• Mosquito clamps: These clamps come in varying lengths for grasping fine tissues and controlling bleeding of smaller vessels.
• Pean clamps: Used to compress vessels, control bleeding and secure tissues.

Retractors

Retractors gently separate the edges of a surgical incision and hold underlying tissues while you operate. This instrument provides you with a better view and more space to perform your procedure.

These instruments come in two formats.

• Self-retaining/automatic: Self-retaining retractors have locking mechanisms to hold tissue hands-free.
• Hand-held/manual: Hand-held retractors require consistent manual force. Typically, a nurse or physician assistant will hold them while you operate.

Needle Holders

Once you complete a procedure, it’s time to close the incision with sutures. You can use various needle holders to securely grasp and drive suturing needles through tissue during wound closure. They reduce slippage, especially as you access difficult-to-reach areas.

• Mayo-Hegar: A versatile, ratcheted, finger-ring holder used for driving medium-to-large needles through tissue.
• Mathieu: Used for fine, repetitive suturing with its plier-shaped, spring-action handle and ratcheted locking mechanism.
• Olsen-Hegar: This needle holder is multifunctional, including grasping, suturing and cutting thread without changing instruments.

gSV Provides Superior Quality at Exceptional Value

At gSource, we understand the need for budget-conscious solutions. And with our gSV line, we offer affordable, reliable general surgery instruments crafted from surgical-grade stainless steel to streamline your processes without sacrificing patient safety or comfort.

There are many reasons to consider our gSV range for your boutique medical center or a large hospital.

• Cost savings: Buy surgical instruments at the best price.
• Reliable quality: Our surgical-grade stainless steel instruments ensure consistent durability and performance.
• Global sourcing: gSource’s global network allows for cost-effective sourcing, keeping you within budget when completing your hospital surgical instrument list.
• Streamlined supply chain: Our streamlined supply chain ensures timely delivery of the tools you need.
• Certifications of registration: We are ISO-13485 and FDA-registered.

Shop Essential Surgical Instruments Used in Hospitals at gSource

gSource is your one-stop shop for quality instrumentation crafted from surgical stainless steel, ensuring high-quality instrumentation for you OR.

Our gSV range offers a broad selection of affordable, reliable and readily available general surgery instruments. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we also provide private labeling and customization.

Contact us for a quote or to discuss your instrument needs.