Cesarean Set

Quick Answer: The cesarean set is a tray of surgical instruments for caesarean section, the operation in which a baby is delivered through incisions in the abdominal wall and uterus. It is used in obstetrics teaching and operating-theatre training for instrument identification and tray setting.

Instruments Usually Found in a Caesarean Tray

A caesarean tray combines general abdominal instruments with a few obstetric ones. Typical contents are scalpel handles, toothed and plain dissecting forceps, curved and straight artery forceps, Allis and Babcock tissue forceps, Mayo and Metzenbaum scissors, needle holders, sponge-holding forceps, towel clips and a Doyen retractor to hold the bladder away from the lower segment of the uterus. Green-Armytage forceps, broad clamps for the edges of the uterine incision, are the instrument students most often associate with this set.

The exact contents and number of pieces in this listing are not stated, and trays differ between hospitals, so compare the supplied list with your department’s tray card before ordering. The spelling ‘cesarean’ follows American usage; British and Indian texts usually write ‘caesarean’.

In teaching, the set is laid out for OT technician and nursing students to learn the order in which instruments are handed to the surgeon, and postgraduate obstetrics candidates are expected to identify each instrument and explain its role. LabEquip supplies it for education and does not claim regulatory approval for clinical use.

Specifications

Applications

• Instrument identification for obstetrics and gynaecology students and residents
• Scrub-nurse and OT technician training in tray setting and instrument counts
• Simulated caesarean delivery on abdominal and birthing task trainers
• Comparing a surgical tray with the smaller delivery set used for vaginal birth

Care & Handling

• Count every instrument out of and back into the tray; the count is part of the training.
• Open all hinged instruments for cleaning, scrub serrations with a brush and use an ultrasonic cleaner where available.
• Lubricate box joints with instrument milk before sterilisation and store the set dry in a perforated tray.

Why Choose LabEquip

Cesarean sets are usually ordered by medical colleges, nursing and midwifery schools and hospital skills centres building obstetric teaching trays. LabEquip lists the set with other surgical teaching instruments, such as the needle holder and towel clip, in its Biology Lab Products range.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Doyen retractor used for in a caesarean section?

It is a broad, curved retractor placed over the bladder to hold it down and away, exposing the lower segment of the uterus where the incision is usually made.

What are Green-Armytage forceps?

Broad, flat clamps applied to the cut edges of the uterine incision to control bleeding and hold the edges for suturing.

How does a cesarean set differ from a general laparotomy set?

It contains the same core abdominal instruments but adds obstetric items such as Green-Armytage forceps and a bladder retractor, and it may include forceps for delivering the baby’s head.

Why are instrument counts practised with this set?

Counting all instruments, swabs and needles before and after the operation is how theatre teams make sure nothing is left inside the patient, so it is taught with every tray.

Is ‘cesarean’ a spelling mistake?

No. Cesarean is the American spelling and caesarean the British spelling; both refer to the same operation.

Can the instruments be autoclaved?

Stainless steel surgical instruments are normally cleaned and steam-sterilised. Open hinged instruments during the cycle and dry them afterwards to prevent staining.

Last Updated: September 2026