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The operating theatre is a room specifically for use by the
anaesthesia and surgical teams and must not be used for other
purposes. A treatment room has equipment similar to an operating
theatre, but on a smaller scale. Both rooms require:
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Good
lighting and ventilation |
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Dedicated
equipment for procedures |
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Equipment
to monitor patients, as required for the procedure |
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Drugs
and other consumables, such as sutures, for routine
and emergency use. |
Ensure
that procedures are established for the correct use of
the operating room and that all staff are trained to follow
them
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Keep
all doors to the operating room closed, except as
needed for the passage of equipment, personnel and
the patient |
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Store
some sutures and extra instruments in the operating
room to decrease the need for people to enter and leave
the operating room during a case |
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Keep
to a minimum the number of people allowed to enter
the operating room, especially after an operation has
started |
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Keep
the operating room uncluttered and easy to clean |
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Between
cases, clean and disinfect the table and instrument
surfaces |
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At
the end of each day, clean the operating room: start
at the top and continue to the floor, including all
furniture, overhead equipment and lights; use a liquid
disinfectant at a dilution recommended by the manufacturer |
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Sterilize
all surgical instruments and supplies after use and
store them protected and ready for the next use |
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Leave
the operating room ready for use in case of an emergency. |
SPONGE AND INSTRUMENT COUNTS
It is essential to keep track of the materials being used
in the operating room and during any complicated procedure
in order to avoid inadvertent disposal or the potentially
disastrous loss of sponges and instruments in the wound.
It is standard practice to count supplies (instruments, needles
and sponges):
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Before
beginning a case |
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Before
final closure |
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On
completing the procedure. |
The
aim is to ensure that materials are not left behind or
lost. Pay special attention to small items and sponges.
Create and make copies of a standard list of equipment for
use as a checklist to check equipment as it is set up for
the case and then as counts are completed during the case.
Include space for suture material and other consumables added
during the case.
When trays are created with the instruments for a specific
case, such as a Caesarean section, also make a checklist
of the instruments included in that tray for future reference.
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