8 · Action Recognition

CholecT50 and GraSP

Basic Surgical Actions-10

The ten categories below describe basic surgical actions, with a definition and visual example for each category.

Aspiration

Removal of fluid or tissue debris from the operative field using suction.

Aspiration illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Clipping

Placement of clips or clamps to stop bleeding or occlude a vessel or tissue.

Clipping illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Coagulation

Use of heat to coagulate proteins, achieve hemostasis, or seal tissue.

Coagulation illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Dissection

Separation or cutting of tissue to reveal underlying anatomy.

Dissection illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Knot-tying

Formation and tightening of suture loops into a knot that secures tissue.

Knot-tying illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Needle Grasping

Approach toward a needle followed by grasping it; the movement into the grasp is emphasized.

Needle Grasping illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Needle Puncture

Advancement of a needle into tissue with the intended entry angle and depth.

Needle Puncture illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Packaging

Placement of tissue or other material into a sterile bag to contain contamination.

Packaging illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Suture Pulling

Pulling a needle or thread to draw suture through tissue after needle passage.

Suture Pulling illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

Tissue Retraction

Holding or moving tissue or an organ aside to expose the operative area.

Tissue Retraction illustration and surgical example from BSA-10

References

[1] Xu M, et al. Generalized Recognition of Basic Surgical Actions Enables Skill Assessment and Vision-Language-Model-based Surgical Planning. arXiv:2603.12787, 2026.