Debakey forceps are a type of atraumatic tissue forceps used in vascular procedures to avoid tissue damage during manipulation. They are typically large (some examples are upwards of 12 inches (36 cm) long), and have a distinct coarsely ribbed grip panel, as opposed to the finer ribbing on most other tissue forceps.
They were developed by Dr. Michael E. DeBakey, along with other innovations during his tenure at Baylor College of Medicine.
Michael DeBakey, in full Michael Ellis DeBakey, (born September 7, 1908, Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.—died July 11, 2008, Houston, Texas), American cardiovascular surgeon, educator, international medical statesman, and pioneer in surgical procedures for treatment of defects and diseases of the cardiovascular system.
He was a Lebanese-American cardiac surgeon and vascular surgeon, scientist, and medical educator who became the chancellor emeritus of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, director of The Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, and senior attending surgeon of The Methodist Hospitalin Houston, with a career spanning 75 years.
In 1932 DeBakey devised the “roller pump,” an essential component of the heart-lung machine that permitted open-heart surgery. He also developed an efficient method of correcting aortic aneurysms by grafting frozen blood vessels to replace diseased vessels. By 1953 DeBakey had developed a technique of using plastic tubing (Dacron) instead of arterial homographs to replace diseased vessels. In 1953 he performed the first successful carotid endarterectomy for stroke, in 1964 the first successful coronary artery bypass, and in 1966 the first successful implantation of a ventricular assist device.
DeBakey received his B.S. (1930), M.D. (1932), and M.S. (1935) degrees from Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans. After volunteering for military service during World War II, his work with the U.S. Surgeon General’s office led to the development of mobile army surgical hospitals (MASH units) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital research system.
In 1948 he became professor of surgery and chairman of the department of surgery at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he later served as president (1969–79) and then as chancellor (1979–96).
DeBakey received numerous national and international awards, including the American Medical Association Distinguished Service Award (1959), the Albert Lasker Award for Clinical Research (1963; co-recipient), the Eleanor Roosevelt Humanities Award (1969), the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction (1969), the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences 50th Anniversary Jubilee Medal (1973), and the Presidential National Medal of Science (1987).
He received more than 50 honorary degrees from universities throughout the world. In 1992 he was introduced into the Academy of Athens, a society of scholars generally restricted to Greeks who have made significant contributions to the arts, sciences, or literature. He edited the Yearbook of Surgery (1958–70), was the founding editor of the Journal of Vascular Surgery, and served on many medical editorial boards.
Among his more than 1,600 professional and lay publications is the The New Living Heart (1997). DeBakey later received the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society’s lifetime achievement award (2007) and was bestowed with the highest and most distinguished civilian award given by the U.S. Congress, the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor (2008).
DeBakey Atraumatic Forceps
Description
- DeBakey forcep has a narrow profile making it ideal for delicate cardiovascular procedures and atraumatic tissue manipulation
- Insulated for protection during electrosurgery
- Ridged grip for comfort and dependability
- Made of the finest German stainless steel for years of demanding use
- Surgical grade to provide the highest level of craftsmanship
The DeBakey tissue forceps are a versatile thumb forceps used in numerous surgical procedures.
Their unique, interpolating, smooth tooth design causes minimal tissue crushing by distributing the grasping forces equally throughout the tips.
Specific Specialty: Cardio-thoracic
Type of Instrument: Tissue Forceps
References
- ^ Surgical Recall, section forceps, 2008 ed.
- ^ Ailawadi, Gorav; Nagji, Alykhan (2010-05-01). “The Legends Behind Cardiothoracic Surgical Instruments”. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 89 (5). doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2009.11.019. Retrieved 2019-04-25.
- https://www.britannica.com/biography/Michael-DeBakey