The present invention relates to a fluid-surgical instrument with a variable spray image. According to the present invention, provided is a fluid-surgical instrument that includes a nozzle (20) to which a vibration can be applied. This concept can be used for changing the direction of the jet during the operation of the nozzle to generate an artificial wiping motion or to impart the nozzle with only micromovements that inject into the fluid ject a transverse pulse and thus lead to a change of the jet image. It is possible to combine both effects with each other. In this manner, the surgeon can retrieve, on command, e.g., different jet shapes made available by software technology and generate such jet shapes with one and the same instrument. In doing so, the surgeon can achieve varying effects without having to change the instrument and the nozzle.