Kocher’s forceps are forceps that look like scissors. It is mainly used in surgery to prevent and stop bleeding, as well as to manipulate and exert strong pulls on strong tissues such as skin and muscles. It can also be used for minor treatments (dressings, clamping of tubing, etc.).

Used daily by healthcare professionals, the Kocher forceps come in the form of stainless steel scissors with long, fine jaws, grooved over their entire length, which can be fitted with a claw at their ends. Combined with a self-locking jaw system, the grooving and claws prevent slipping when gripping an object or tissue.

The right Kocher forceps are mainly used in surgery for:

• prevent and stop certain bleeding or hemorrhaging;
• preserve the most fragile tissues during surgery;
• manipulate and exert strong pulls on strong tissues such as skin, bones and sometimes muscle fibers.

Due to its aggressive effect because it is very sharp, the Kocher forceps are not suitable for fragile tissues such as nerves, intestines and lungs.

Outside of the operating room, this forceps is also used for many manipulations requiring significant gripping. Thus, nurses use it for:

• make dressings by folding the compresses around another forceps;
• clamp the infusion lines;
• unscrew the resistant tubes:
• perform stitches: in this case, the Kocher forceps serve as a needle holder.

The Kocher pliers are practical and very easy to clean and maintain. It can be cleaned by hand in a soaking tank with a cleaning product that does not attack stainless steel or in an autoclave with a suitable product by following the following instructions:

• temperature: 134 ° C;
• pressure: 2 bars;
• duration: 18 minutes;
• let cool before using.

Precautions for use

• clean, disinfect and sterilize all new Kocher forceps before their first use;
• clean, disinfect and sterilize the Kocher forceps as quickly as possible after use;
• do not use brushes or metal sponges for manual cleaning;
• rinse thoroughly after washing using deionized water whenever possible;
• dry carefully after rinsing.

As its name suggests, the Kocher forceps were invented in the 19th century by Emil Theodor Kocher, a Swiss surgeon specializing in the physiology of the thyroid gland and creator of goiter surgery. During his career, Mr. Kocher has designed many new surgical techniques, instruments and devices, including this forceps which today bears his name.

Some Kocher gripper models have a claw at each end. These models are used mainly by surgeons, these claws allow them to prevent slippage of the forceps during preemption. Clamps without claws are used more by nurses.

In addition, the size of a Kocher forceps with or without claw can vary depending on the use from 13 to 24 cm and can be straight or even curved to facilitate its use in more complex cases.