What are dilators used for in surgical procedures?

Dilators are specifically designed for the purpose of gradually dilating an orifice or duct in surgical procedures. This function is critical in many medical contexts, such as expanding the passageway for surgical tools, facilitating the insertion of catheters, or prepping the area for further surgical interventions. The gradual dilation reduces the risk of tearing or damaging the surrounding tissues and allows for more controlled and precise operations.

Other tools mentioned, such as those for grasping, cutting, or scraping tissue, serve entirely different purposes. Graspers are used to hold tissues securely in place, cutting instruments are designed specifically for incising tissues, and scrapers are utilized for removing tissue or debris. Each of these instruments plays a unique role in surgery but does not serve the specific function of dilating passages in the way that dilators do.