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Bleeding in the tonsillar fossa after tonsillectomy at times is alarming and must be controlled with a ligature. Ligation of a bleeding vessel is the safest procedure, and quite a number of instruments have been devised to accomplish this.
The instrument that I present is simple and facilitates an established procedure. It consists of a straight clamp with a sliding hook on one shank, to which one end of the ligature is attached.
To apply a ligature, the bleeding point is seized with a regular tonsillar artery clamp. A no. 1 catgut slip knot is made, and the fixed end is caught by the instrument close to the knot. The long end is slung about the sliding hook and tied. The loop is then slipped over the clamp, and with one hand manipulating this clamp (on the bleeding point) while the other hand holds the instrument to the clamped tissue,