Which instrument clamps blood vessels to control bleeding until suturing can occur?

• A. Catheters
• B. Hemostats
• C. Forceps
• D. Retractors

Answer: (B)

Clamping blood vessels to stop bleeding during suturing requires a tool designed to securely pinch and hold a vessel. Hemostats fit this need perfectly: they are surgical clamps with a locking mechanism that constrains a vessel, preventing blood flow while the surgeon ties sutures or ligates. The locking feature lets bleeding be controlled without continuous hand pressure, keeping the field clear and stable. They come in straight or curved forms to reach different vessels as needed. By contrast, catheters are hollow tubes for delivering or draining fluids, forceps are mainly for grasping and manipulating tissue, and retractors hold back tissue to expose the area. None of those primarily occlude a vessel to control bleeding.