Cesarean Section Instrument Set — Complete C-Section Surgical Tools Guide

A cesarean section instrument set is one of the most frequently used surgical trays in any hospital with an active obstetrics unit. Getting the configuration right matters for both patient safety and scrub technician efficiency — especially when C-section cases run back to back during high-volume shifts.

Complete C-Section Instrument Set Contents

A standard cesarean section set contains 40 to 55 instruments configured for the Pfannenstiel (lower transverse) approach. The list below reflects the most common configuration used in government and private hospitals across South Asia and the Middle East.

Retractors

• Doyen abdominal retractor — the defining instrument of the C-section set; the wide curved blade retracts the bladder and lower uterine segment to expose the uterine incision site safely
• Richardson retractors (large pair) — initial abdominal wall retraction during the Pfannenstiel exposure
• Langenbeck retractors (pair, 19 cm) — for wound edge retraction during uterine closure

Uterine Clamps and Hemostatic Forceps

• Green-Armytage uterine hemostatic forceps (6 to 8 pcs) — specifically designed for uterine incision bleeding control; straight jaws with multiple transverse serrations provide grip on the uterine muscle edge without cutting through
• Kocher clamps (6 pcs) — for cord clamping and broad ligament control
• Allis tissue forceps (4 pcs) — peritoneal and fascial layer handling during opening and closure
• Sponge-holding (ring) forceps (2 pcs) — swab counting and cavity packing with antiseptic gauze

Scissors

• Bandage scissors (Lister), 18 cm — for extending the uterine incision; the blunt lower blade protects the fetus from the scissor tip during lateral extension
• Mayo scissors, curved, 17 cm — fascia and heavy tissue cutting during opening
• Metzenbaum scissors, curved — uterine layer dissection and uterovesical space development

Needle Holders

• Mayo-Hegar needle holders (3 pcs, 18 cm, 20 cm, 23 cm) — uterine closure requires the longer 23 cm holder for deep placement on the posterior uterine wall
• Heaney needle holder, 23 cm — preferred by many OB/GYN surgeons for the first deep uterine layer

Tissue Forceps

• Adson tissue forceps (with and without teeth) — skin and subcutaneous closure
• Bonney tissue forceps, 18 cm — heavier fascial layer handling during opening and closure
• Russian tissue forceps, 18 cm — peritoneal closure

Supporting Instruments

• Yankauer suction cannula
• Backhaus towel clips (8 pcs)
• Scalpel handle No. 4 — for the Pfannenstiel skin incision

The Instrument That Most Generic Sets Get Wrong

Green-Armytage forceps are non-negotiable in a proper C-section set. Many low-cost generic sets substitute standard Kocher clamps at the uterine incision edges, which do not provide adequate grip on the uterine muscle and tend to slip under tension. A well-stocked C-section tray has at least 6 Green-Armytage forceps — 4 applied to the uterine incision immediately after delivery and 2 held in reserve for bleeding points along the lower segment.

Doyen blade depth matters too. A shallow blade under 6 cm does not adequately retract the bladder in patients with prior uterine scars, bladder adhesions, or a high-riding uterine segment. Our standard C-section sets include Doyen blades at both 7 cm and 8 cm depth, with the deeper blade included for use when standard retraction is insufficient.

Material and Quality Standards

All instruments in Fizza Surgical’s cesarean section sets are manufactured from 316L stainless steel and polished to Ra less than or equal to 0.4 micrometers. Sets are manufactured under ISO 13485:2016 and carry full CE marking documentation.

Custom and Combined Set Configurations

Some obstetrics departments run combined vaginal delivery and C-section trays. Others want a dedicated LSCS (Lower Segment Cesarean Section) tray with an increased Green-Armytage count and a second Doyen retractor for teaching cases. We configure sets to your instrument card with no design fee. Minimum 12 trays for custom configuration; no minimum for standard catalog sets.

Contact Fizza Surgical to request a C-section set catalog, sample tray, or procurement quote.