We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Procedures

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Bookwalter Retractor™?

By Andy Josiah
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 30,392
Share

A Bookwalter Retractor™ is a type of surgical instrument made by Codman & Shurtleff, Inc. It is sold with a collection of other medical tools labeled the Bookwalter Retractor Kit, used for holding open a surgical incision to expose the part of the body being operated on. As of March 2011, the Bookwalter Retractor Kit is in its second generation of production.

A retractor in the field of medicine is defined as a tool that surgeons use to separate or hold back the ends of a surgical incision, with the abdomen or chest being the most common sites. This is done so that they can gain much better access to the area of the body they intend to operate on. Retractors are generally manufactured as hand-held steel tools, with one end serving as the spreader and the other end being the handle. A few retractors have been made for application to a robotic arm for operation.

The Bookwalter Retractor™ follows the conventional method of manufacture in that it is made of steel. It is therefore similar to retractors such as the Deaver retractor and the Richardson retractor. The former is designed as a curved blade, while the latter has an L-shaped blade and bulky handle.

Senn retractors are also made of steel, and they are similar to the Richardson retractor in that they also possess an L shape. Notably, though, the Bookwalter Retractor™—along with the Deaver and Richardson versions—is a single-ended tool, while the Senn retractor is a double-ended one. Moreover, the Senn retractor is used for hand and foot surgeries, unlike tools like the Bookwalter Retractor™, which is used for abdominal and chest operations.

The Bookwalter Retractor Kit II, which comprises 18 components, actually offers four Bookwalter Retractor™ blades for widening the surgical incisions. They vary in size according to the thickness or toughness of the organs or tissue that need to be pushed aside. The sizes include 2 by 3 inches (51 by 76 mm), 2 by 4 inches (51 mm by 10.1 cm), 2 by 5 inches (51 mm by 12.7 cm), and 2 by 6 inches (51 mm by 15.2 cm). The Bookwalter Retractor™ blades are used in a variety of surgical procedures. This includes cholecystectomy, which involves gallbladder removal; appendectomy, or removal of the appendix; and hernia repair, which concerns getting rid of abnormal bulges in the abdomen.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-is-a-bookwalter-retractor.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.