D&C Instrument Set — Dilation and Curettage Surgical Tools Complete Guide

Dilation and curettage is among the most common gynecological procedures performed worldwide, used for both diagnostic endometrial sampling and therapeutic evacuation. The instrument set is compact compared to a hysterectomy tray, but each component has a specific function — using the wrong dilator size or curette design can lead to uterine perforation or incomplete tissue removal.

D&C Instrument Set — Complete Contents

Specula

• Auvard weighted speculum — posterior vaginal wall retraction; the integral weight keeps the speculum in position without an assistant holding it, freeing both the surgeon’s hands for the procedure
• Sims speculum (small and medium) — alternative to the Auvard in narrower vaginal canals or in patients who tolerate weighted instruments poorly

Tenaculum Forceps

• Pozzi single-tooth tenaculum — grasps the anterior lip of the cervix to stabilize the uterus during dilation; the single-tooth design causes minimal cervical trauma compared to multi-tooth designs
• Museux double-tooth tenaculum — used for larger or more mobile cervices where a single-tooth grip is insufficient

Uterine Sound

• Sims uterine sound (malleable, graduated) — measures uterine cavity depth before dilator selection; graduated in centimeters from 6 cm to 14 cm; the malleable design allows adjustment for anteverted and retroverted uteri

Hegar Dilators — The Most Important Component

Hegar dilators are graduated solid-bar instruments that progressively dilate the cervical canal. The series runs from 3 mm to 20 mm, with each dilator 1 mm wider than the previous. The configuration used depends on the indication:

• Sizes 3 to 9 mm — standard diagnostic D&C (endometrial biopsy, post-menopausal bleeding workup); sufficient for most office and day-case procedures
• Sizes 3 to 13 mm — therapeutic D&C for early pregnancy evacuation (up to 10 weeks), incomplete miscarriage, or retained products of conception
• Sizes 1 to 20 mm (full obstetric set) — for second-trimester procedures, cervical ripening, and cervical incompetence treatment

Each Fizza Surgical Hegar dilator is turned from solid 316L stainless steel bar stock and polished to eliminate surface burrs. Burred dilators — common in lower-cost sets — can lacerate the cervical canal even when used at the correct diameter.

Uterine Curettes

Curette selection depends on the clinical indication:

• Sharp curettes (sizes 1 to 6) — diagnostic endometrial sampling; the sharp serrated edge collects intact tissue strips for histopathological examination
• Blunt curettes (sizes 1 to 6) — post-partum retained products or in patients at elevated perforation risk (thin atrophic endometrium, prior uterine surgery)
• Thomas posterior-angled curette — specifically designed for sampling the posterior uterine wall in retroverted uteri where standard curettes cannot reach the posterior fundus

Sponge-Holding Forceps

• Rampley sponge-holding forceps (2 pcs) — for cervical and vaginal antiseptic preparation, and for intrauterine packing with antiseptic gauze at procedure end

Set Configurations for Different Use Cases

For a routine diagnostic D&C (endometrial biopsy, RPOC), most surgeons use Hegar sizes 5 to 9, a sharp curette in size 3 to 4, a Pozzi tenaculum, and an Auvard speculum. For first-trimester incomplete miscarriage or retained products, dilation to Hegar 11 to 12 is typical, followed by blunt or sharp curettes in sizes 4 to 5.

Our standard combined set covers both use cases: Hegar sizes 3 to 13, both sharp and blunt curettes in sizes 1 to 4, Pozzi and Museux tenaculum, both speculum types, and Rampley sponge forceps. Custom configurations (full obstetric Hegar range, additional curette sizes) are available on request.

Dilator Quality — What Fails First in Budget Sets

Hegar dilators are under bending stress each time they are inserted against cervical resistance. Budget dilators manufactured from 304 stainless steel or with hollow-bar construction deform over time, developing surface roughness and dimensional drift. After 200 to 300 sterilization cycles, a deformed dilator may not accurately represent its size marking, leading to over-dilation.

Fizza Surgical manufactures Hegar dilators from solid-bar 316L stainless steel. Dimensional tolerance is maintained to plus or minus 0.1 mm on the diameter. All D&C sets are supplied under ISO 13485:2016 with CE marking.

Ordering

D&C sets are available in the three standard configurations above, or built to your instrument card. Used by gynecology departments and maternity clinics across Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, and West Africa. Contact Fizza Surgical for pricing or to request a catalog.