(About Specula)
Instrument usage: Speculums are viewing instruments that are used to examine the interior of body cavities, hollow organs, or structures.1 Speculums are commonly made of stainless steel and are reusable, but some, especially gynecological speculum, can be disposable and made of plastic.
Key differences:
Speculums can be hinged, with blunt blades used to enlarge and hold open a canal, such as a vaginal speculum or nasal speculum.1
Some speculums act like a retractor, such as a weighted vaginal speculum or an eye speculum.2
Rectal speculums can be self-retaining with rounded blades that are held in place to provide exposure during rectal surgery.2
Other speculums are like a funnel, such as an ear speculum.1
Safety on the sterile field:
Speculums can come in various sizes and should be organized on the sterile field from smallest to largest.
If the speculum has multiple parts and screws, all parts must be part of the surgical count.
When inserting a speculum into the rectum, the scrub personnel should have sterile saline, betadine, or water soluble lubricant available on the sterile field to place on the end of the speculum.
If the laser is being used with the speculum, an ebonized, glare-free, non-reflective speculum should be used to prevent injury of the patient or staff.
Instrument names:
Speculums are commonly called by their instrument name, such as “vaginal speculum” or just “speculum.” If multiple sizes are used, they would be referred to by the size that is needed, such as “number 4 ear speculum.”
References:
1. Phillips, Nancymarie. Berry & Kohn's Operating Room Technique. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2016.
2. Nemitz, Renee. Surgical Instrumentation-eBook: An Interactive Approach. Elsevier Health Sciences, 2017.