Neurosurgical Cotton Balls
Cotton Balls · Surgical Cotton Balls · X-Ray Detectable Cotton Balls · Cotton Balls with String
Small balls of tightly made surgical cotton that resist shredding. Each one has a long X-ray detectable string attached for retrieval.
On the table
What it does and what experienced techs know about it.
What it’s for
Used in neurosurgery, mostly on brain and spinal cord tissue, to help control bleeding from very fine vessels in the cranialKRAY-nee-ulRelating to the skull, or toward the head end of the body.crani/o skull-al relating toFull entry cavity. Our craniotomykray-nee-OT-uh-meeSurgery in which a piece of the skull is removed to reach the brain, and usually put back at the end.crani/o skull-tomy cutting intoFull entry setups pull them with cottonoids (patties).
What experienced techs know
What techs who reach for it every day know about it.Pro
Through the case
In the order you meet it: before, during and after the case.
- During the case
Caution
What not to do with it, and why.Pro
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On 4 setups
Every setup it is laid out on.
Every setup this instrument is laid out on, with photos of each table.
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2 sources
- Fuller JK. Surgical Technology: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Chapter 19 (Surgical Skills II: Intraoperative and Immediate Postoperative Period), p. 394-395
- minimhealthcare.com
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