Setting Up a Minor OT in Your Clinic: Basic Surgical Instrument Checklist
Short answer: A basic minor OT set for a clinic covers suturing, excision and dressing work:
- A scalpel handle and blades
- Toothed and non-toothed dissecting forceps
- A needle holder
- Mayo, Metzenbaum and suture-cutting scissors
- 4–6 artery forceps (straight, curved and mosquito)
- Allis tissue forceps
- A small retractor
- Sponge-holding forceps
- A kidney tray and an instrument tray
Buy two sets if you do more than a few procedures a day, so one can be sterilised while the other is in use.
Starter instrument checklist
| Instrument | Qty per set | Used for | At Surgismart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scalpel handle No. 3 + blades (No. 10, 11, 15) | 1 handle | Incisions | Available on request |
| Needle holder (Mayo-Hegar type) | 1–2 | Suturing | Mayo Needle Holder, from ₹1,850 |
| Mayo scissors | 1 | Cutting sutures and tough tissue | Mayo Scissor, from ₹550 |
| Metzenbaum scissors | 1 | Delicate dissection | Metzenbaum Scissors, from ₹550 |
| Suture-cutting / stitch scissors | 1 | Suture removal | Heath Suture Cutting Scissors, from ₹495 |
| Artery forceps, straight | 2 | Haemostasis, holding sutures | Artery Forceps, from ₹485 |
| Artery forceps, curved | 2 | Deeper haemostasis | Artery Forceps Side Curved, from ₹545 |
| Mosquito forceps | 2 | Fine vessels | Halsted Mosquito, from ₹425 |
| Allis tissue forceps | 2 | Grasping tissue to be excised | Allis Tissue Forceps, from ₹475 |
| Sponge-holding forceps | 1 | Skin prep, swabbing | Ring Forceps, from ₹2,250 |
| Small retractor | 1 pair | Wound exposure | Kelly's Retractor, from ₹725 |
| Dressing scissors | 1 | Dressings, bandages | Dressing Scissor, from ₹450 |
| Kidney tray | 1–2 | Waste and used instruments | Kidney Tray, from ₹150 |
| Instrument tray with lid | 1 | Sterile storage and layout | Instrument Tray with Lid, from ₹475 |
Beyond instruments
- Sterilisation: an autoclave, sterilisation pouches or drums, and indicator tape.
- Consumables: sterile gloves, sutures (absorbable and non-absorbable), gauze, cotton, drapes, antiseptic, dressings and syringes with local anaesthetic.
- Setup: good lighting, an OT table or couch, and a waste segregation system compliant with biomedical waste rules.
Buying tips
- Choose stainless steel with smooth box joints and ratchets that lock on the first click.
- Buy duplicates of the most used items, such as needle holders and artery forceps, rather than rare specialty pieces.
- Clinics can get a bundled quote with a GST invoice through our quote form. We supply clinics and hospitals from Chennai with pan-India delivery.
FAQ
German or Indian instruments for a clinic? For routine minor procedures, good-grade Indian stainless steel instruments perform well and cost much less. Premium German steel mainly pays off in high-volume or specialist surgery.
How many sets do I need? Enough for one sterilisation cycle of downtime: usually two sets for a busy clinic.
