Surgical Equipment

Integrated Operating Rooms

Operating rooms (OR) have evolved tremendously with technological innovations delivering enhanced patient care in and out of the OR. Hospitals continue to design operation theatre rooms focusing on greater functionality and improved patient comfort... Read More

The Complete Guide to Surgical Lights

Surgical lights, also known as surgical lighting or operating lights, are mainly used in hospital operating rooms (OR) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASC). Surgery lights can also be used in various locations throughout the facility to provide high-quality lighting for procedures. Examples include... Read More

The Complete Guide to Patient Positioning

Patient positioning is vital to a safe and effective surgical procedure. STERIS surgical table accessories and support systems provide complete flexibility and versatility for patient positioning with excellent radiolucency and... Read More

Safety in the Operating Room

The surgical care environment contains many elements that must be optimized to deliver safe patient care and create a safe place of employment. Failure to account for certain aspects in the design of the perioperative environment may result in decreased efficiency, adverse effects... Read More

Hazards of Smoke in the Operating Room

Learn about the dangers of surgical smoke in the operating room and how to protect yourself and your patients. Our in-depth guide covers the health risks, regulatory requirements, and best practices for surgical smoke control... Read More

How to Prevent Retained Surgical Items

In the fast-paced and high-stress environment of an operating room (OR), it's possible for small items like surgical sponges and gauze and surgical instruments to be left in a patient's body unintentionally. These retained surgical items (RSIs) can cause serious patient harm... Read More

The Evolution of Medical Imaging Displays

Medical displays that provide visualization of surgical procedures are vital to high-quality patient care. Medical display technology is advancing from High Definition to Ultra High Definition (4K). The most common 4K resolution in the medical field is... Read More

Pressure Relieving and Redistribution Devices

Patient positioning is vital in preventing tissue damage and pressure ulcers in the operating room. Proper patient positioning depends on the type and length of the procedure, anesthesia access to the patient, and the Pressure Relieving and Redistribution Devices... Read More

Operating Room Sterilization: A Complete Guide to Air Quality

Global events have raised awareness about contamination in recent years, yet surgical site infections (SSI) remain the most common and costly of all hospital-acquired infections (HAI). An estimated 157,500 SSIs occur annually... Read More

The Importance of Perioperative Patient Warming

Too many patients experience some form of unplanned perioperative hypothermia in which their core body temperature drops below 96.8° F during surgery. A drop in core body temperature can lead to adverse patient outcomes such as myocardial events, infections, poor incision healing, postoperative pain, and increased blood loss... Read More

What is Patient Pressure Management?

Proper pressure management during surgery plays an important role in the safety and comfort of the patient. About one-fourth of Healthcare-Associated Infection pressure sores originate in the Operating Room (OR). Pressure management is especially important when treating... Read More

Lithotomy Position Guide

Achieving a proper patient position while maintaining patient comfort and safety is key. When the patient is in the appropriate position, access to the surgical site is improved and the ability to perform the procedure is enhanced. To decrease the risk associated with patient positioning... Read More

What are Retained Surgical Items?

Retained surgical items (RSIs), sometimes referred to as retained foreign bodies or retained foreign objects (RFOs), are any instruments, tools, devices, or surgical gauze unintentionally left in the body cavity at the completion of a surgery or other procedure... Read More

Surgical Smoke Evacuation in the OR: Design, Implementation & Policy

Until the past few years, policies for smoke evacuation in the operating room have been left up to the discretion of the healthcare facility. That appears to be changing with...

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Pressure Ulcer Stages Prevention

Pressure Ulcers represent a significant nursing care problem, and their prevention is an important perioperative nursing goal. Studies show that 17% to 29% of the general acute care population will develop a pressure sore... Read More

Fowler's Position

Patient positioning is vital to a safe and effective surgical procedure. Fowler’s position is the most common position for patients resting comfortably, whether in-patient or in the emergency department. Also known as sitting position, Fowler’s patient positioning is... Read More

Blanket Warmer- Everything You Need to Know

What is a blanket warmer?

A blanket warmer, also known as a warming cabinet and blanket warming machine, stores and warms linens, blankets, and sterile intravenous (IV) and surgical irrigation fluids in a medical environment. Blanket warmers often come in various sizes, and may have one, two or three compartments. Blanket warmers are often used to warm IV and surgical irrigation fluids to reduce the risk of...

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Lateral Position

One of the four main surgical patient positions, the lateral position is used for procedures that require surgical access to one side of the patient’s body. In the lateral position, the patient lies on one side. Some common procedures... Read More

Prone Position

The prone position is a patient position used during surgical procedures that provide surgical access to the dorsal aspects of the patient’s body. In the prone position, the patient is positioned face-down with their head in a neutral position without excessive flexion, extension, or rotation. The patient’s arms should...  Read More

Supine Position

Proper patient positioning  is an important part of ensuring that a surgical procedure is safe and effective. Determining a patient position for a procedure is determined from a preoperative assessment and is based on factors like type of procedure, length of procedure, patient’s ability to tolerate the procedure, exposure required by the surgical... Read More

OR Integration for the Modern Operating Room

For many hospitals, Operating Room (OR) traffic control has rapidly transformed from being a long-term goal to an urgent need. The need to conserve Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and limit exposure to infectious disease without compromising patient care or staff safety is now... Read More

Operating Theatre Design

From hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), the setting of a healthcare environment is important to the healing and wellbeing of patients, patient’s family and friends, and staff. From the waiting room to the Operating Room, visual appeal, efficiency, and cleanability all play a role in healthcare... Read More

The Ultimate Guide to the Trendelenburg Position

Positioning is imperative to patient safety during a surgical procedure. Proper patient positioning depends on the type and length of procedure, anesthesia access to the patient, devices required and other factors. While in Trendelenburg position, the patient is laid supine on the surgical table, and their head is...  Read More

Operating Room Lighting

In the Operating Room (OR), it is imperative that the surgical team has high-quality lighting to accurately and consistently assess and interpret the status of the patient during surgery... Read More

What Are Surgical Displays

Surgical displays are used to provide instant visualization of intricate patient anatomy during the surgery, displaying a crisp view of the surgical field. A surgical display also provides critical patient information to the surgical staff during a procedure, including vital signs and X-rays. This information helps surgeons... Read More

Types of Surgical Table Accessories

Surgical Table Accessories by Function

Arm Supports
An arm support, also known as an armboard, attaches to a general or specialty surgical table by means of clamps or posts. Arm supports provide support for proper, anatomical posturing appropriate for the patient and procedure.

Body Restraints
Body restraints are used to secure a patient during extreme....

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What is a Surgical Boom?

WHY ARE SURGICAL BOOMS IMPORTANT?

Surgical booms, also known as equipment booms, provide support for other equipment throughout the Operating Room. A surgical boom is designed to ergonomically centralize all surgical support equipment and utility services for OR staff. Booms are used in healthcare facilities where there is a need for access to medical gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide, electrical power and audio-visual data services. By keeping cords out of the way of surgical staff, surgical booms reduce trip hazards. Most surgical booms also...

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What is a Hybrid Operating Room?

BENEFITS OF HYBRID OPERATING ROOM?

A Hybrid Operating Room is a type of advanced procedural space that combines traditional operating room with an image guided interventional suite. This combination allows for highly complex advanced surgical procedures. Not only are the rooms combined but the teams are combined to form a multi-disciplinary group of clinicians prepared for any eventuality. A Hybrid OR is an aseptic environment that combines surgical equipment, instruments, surgical tables, OR lights, equipment management systems, and surgical booms along with fixed advanced imaging systems offering the capability to...

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What are Operating Room Cabinets?

USES OF OPERATING ROOM STORAGE CABINETS

Operating room storage cabinets are used in operating rooms, catheterization (cath) labs, radiology and endoscopy departments, Sterile Processing Departments (SPD), and other departments for storage of surgical supplies, instruments and devices. Operating room cabinets may be constructed from stainless steel, laminate or other durable materials. Operating room cabinets often come in a variety of...

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Scrub Sinks

WHY ARE SCRUB SINKS IMPORTANT?

Scrub sinks, also referred to as surgical sinks or medical sinks, are vital to keeping Operating Rooms (ORs) up and running, and are imperative to the health and safety of patients. They serve as the scrub station for surgeons and other OR staff to scrub their hands and arms before a surgical or invasive procedure. By performing a surgical hand scrub...

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Operating Room Equipment: A Complete Guide

HISTORY OF OPERATING ROOM EQUIPMENT

The history of operating room equipment is expansive, and varies depending on the piece of equipment. Some of the earliest operating rooms, also known as operating theaters, were used in the early 1800s. Surgeries were performed during daylight hours as there was no electricity. Additionally, candles were often used for extra lighting...

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Ultimate Guide to Operating Table

What is an operating table?

An operating table is a table on which a patient lies during a surgical procedure. Sometimes known as a surgical table or operation table, operating tables are typically used within an operating room or surgical suite of a hospital, ambulatory surgery center, or other healthcare facilities where surgeries are performed. Operating tables may be either stationary or mobile to move room to room. Operating tables are used in various types of procedures such as...

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