A General Set Major

Below is a description of the typical components included:

1. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments

• Scalpel handles (No. 3 & 4) – for attaching surgical blades.

• Metzenbaum scissors – for delicate tissue dissection.

• Mayo scissors (straight and curved) – for cutting sutures and tough tissue.

• Bone cutting forceps or rongeur (optional) – for cutting small bone fragments.

2. Grasping and Holding Instruments

• Tissue forceps (with and without teeth) – for holding skin and tissue.

• Allis tissue forceps – for firmly grasping soft tissue.

• Babcock forceps – for delicate structures like intestines or fallopian tubes.

• Kocher (Ochsner) forceps – for tough tissue or fascia.

3. Clamping and Occluding Instruments

• Artery forceps (Mosquito, Kelly, Crile, Rochester-Pean) – for hemostasis (controlling bleeding).

• Right angle (Mixter) forceps – for passing ligatures around vessels.

• Towel clamps (Backhaus) – for securing drapes.

4. Retracting and Exposing Instruments

• Langenbeck retractors – for small incisions.

• Deaver retractors – for deep cavity retraction.

• Richardson retractors – for abdominal wall exposure.

• Rake retractors – for superficial retraction.

5. Suturing and Stapling Instruments

• Needle holders (Mayo-Hegar, Olsen-Hegar) – for suturing.

• Suture scissors – for cutting suture material.

6. Suction and Miscellaneous Instruments

• Yankauer or Poole suction tube – for aspirating fluids.

• Towel clips – to hold sterile drapes.

• Bowl set (kidney dishes, round bowls) – for holding saline or instruments.

• Instrument tray (sterilizable) – for organizing the set.