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Errors in packaging surgical instruments based on a surgical instrument tracking system

  Background Surgical instrument processing is important for improving the safety of surgical care in hospitals . However, it has been rarely studied to date. Errors in surgical instrument processing may increase operative times and costs, and increase the risk of surgical infections and perioperative morbidity. We aimed to investigate the errors occurred in packaging surgical instruments. Methods Surgical instrument tracking system in a central sterile supply department (CSSD) was used to collect the packaging data during January–August 2016 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China. Results Data on 33,839 surgical instrument packages were collected. A total of 398 (1.18%) errors occurred, including incomplete packages ( n  = 70), instrument missing ( n  = 77), instrument malfunction ( n  = 27), instrument in wrong specification ( n  = 175), wrong packaging tag ( n  = 8), box and cover mismatched ( n  = 14), wrong packing material ( n  = 15), indi
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Prevention of medical accidents caused by defective surgical instruments

  Background The malfunctioning of surgical instruments may lead to serious medical accidents. Limited information is available on the risk of defective instruments . The purpose of these study is to demonstrate the features of defective surgical instruments, to establish a strategy to reduce the risk of medical accidents. Methods We studied 19,474 consecutive operations during 2007 to 2009 at our hospital. The data on defective surgical instruments were collected based on the orders for repair of broken surgical instruments and reports of near-miss incidents. Adverse events caused by defective instruments were also identified from reports of near-miss incidents. Results A total of 1,775 nonfunctioning surgical instruments were identified during the study period. Of these, 112 were found during operation. More than half of the defective surgical instruments were tissue-grasping instruments , bone-boring/gnawing instruments, and instruments for endoscopic surgery. Wearing out and
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6 CRITICAL STEPS FOR CLEANING AND PROTECTING YOUR DENTAL INSTRUMENTS

Instruments must be properly taken care of if they are to function as they were intended, for as long as they were intended. A safe and efficient cleaning process will protect the investment you’ve made in high-quality dental instruments . But in truth, there’s more than just money at stake. Dental health professionals are on the front lines of the war against infection. The process you use to clean and sterilize your instruments is one of your most important and effective tools to protect your instruments, your patients, and yourself. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) published their  Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings , and they remain the gold standard that dental offices use today. In these guidelines, instrument processing plays a central role in preventing the transmission of infection. As it should: Your dental instruments come into contact with and often penetrate patient soft tissues. If your instruments are harboring microbes, infection ca
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PROPERLY DISPOSING OF YOUR SINGLE-USE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS

  PROPERLY DISPOSING OF YOUR SINGLE-USE SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS As a medical professional, the appropriate disposal of single-use  surgical instruments  is an integral part of the job. In order to prevent contamination or and reduce health risks to the people in the waste management industry, every person in the medical field must handle and properly dispose of single-use instruments. Waste management procedures for single-use instruments and tools tend to vary from country to country and even hospital to hospital, so you must consider it your responsibility to know what the guidelines are for your place of work. That being said, there are general rules and procedures that govern Australian institutions, as outlined below. Categorising and Segregating Medical Waste Once a single-use instrument such as  disposable cholangiogram forceps  has been used, it must be categorised according to the laws in your state and medical practice. These categories can vary across the board, so you s
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Information on cleaning and sterilization of surgical instruments

  General instructions Treatment of brand new instruments Brand new instruments must be cleaned before the first sterilization or use. Protective caps and protective films must be removed completely, for example in the case of chisels, raspatories or microsurgical instruments. Cleaning-Disinfection- Sterilization of motor systems and handpieces Aesculap motor systems and the handpieces require maintenance and are renowned worldwide for their reliability. Premature wear and malfunctions can be avoided by following the instructions for care listed below and the lubrificating instructions for the handpieces in the respective instructions for use. If the devices need repair or maintenance after all, please contact your local Aesculap representative. After use For machine cleaning, place instrument in a wire basket suitable for the cleaning process (make sure cleaning solution and rinse water from maschine comes into contact with all parts of instrument). Completely dismantle any dismantab
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How Do I Select Appropriate Surgical Instruments for My Application?

  When you are selecting   surgical instruments   for a procedure, here are a few key points to consider What procedure are you performing? Published research papers usually indicate which instruments other researchers have used for similar procedures. The correct surgical instrument for a particular procedure makes a difference on the outcome of that technique. What is the size of your subject? An instrument that is perfect for a 200­–300 g rat (about 22–25 cm long) may not be the best choice for a neo-natal mouse of about 15 g (about 1–2.5 cm long). How often will the instrument be used? If you perform more than 100 cuts per day, a pair of titanium scissors or a pair of scissors with tungsten carbide inserts would be worth considering. They stay sharp longer. Types of Surgical Instruments Most of our surgical instruments can be used for general surgery in a research laboratory setting. Instruments may be roughly categorized by function: Cutting instruments include scissors, surgical
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