Healthcare Estates Conference 2023 – Come see us there!

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The Healthcare Estates Conference 2023 is being held at Manchester Central this year from 10th to 11th November. And it’s promising to be a great event for estates and facilities managers in the healthcare sector.

We’ll be exhibiting on stand A57, so if you are one of our many existing customers for workplace exposure monitoring, personal sampling or chemical spill management do drop by to say hello.

If our name is completely new to you, we would also love to see you and talk to you about how we can help you.

Healthcare Estates Conference 2023 – What’s New
We are bringing a couple of new products with us to Healthcare Estates 2023 that are designed to help both staff and patients stay safe in the hospital environment.

Our Blueair Health Protect range of air purifiers are ideal for places where staff and patients congregate including waiting areas, meeting rooms, wards and restaurants.

Our Blueair air purifiers remove and kill 99% of viruses and bacteria captured in the filter. They also comprise HEPASilent technology which catches 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns such as viruses and bacteria. Just click here to see our full range: https://cairntechnology.com/air-purification/

Also in the spotlight at the Healthcare Estates Exhibition, will be our new Sundstrom Air Fed Hood kits. These are ideal for staff that cannot use standard respirators from our chemical spill kits. This may be due to not yet having had a proper face-fit test, or because they have facial hair which prevents effective face-fitting.

Click here for more information: https://cairntechnology.com/product/sundstrom-starter-kit/

What we can also help you with @HCEstates?

We can also talk you though our range of COSHH workplace exposure monitoring services and personal sampling for theatre, endoscopy and maternity departments. Or help you to find the right chemical spill kit and training for your needs.

Learning and Networking at the Healthcare Estates conference

Of course, we are sure that two of the main reasons that you will be attending the event are to tap into knowledge transfer and networking opportunities.

To find out more about these just visit https://www.healthcare-estates.com/ or click here to register to attend https://www.healthcare-estates.com/registration-2023/

We look forward to seeing you there!

 

Surgical Sutures and Stitch Types: A Guide

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Surgical sutures and stitches are used to close wounds to the skin and other tissues.

This is an essential introduction to the different types of surgical sutures and stitches. We’ll briefly discuss what each type is used for and explore the sort of specialist surgical instruments doctors use to apply sutures.

What’s the Difference Between Sutures and Stitches?

The terms “sutures” and “stitches” are often used interchangeably. The key difference is that a suture is a medical device surgeons use to repair a wound and stitching is a technique surgeons use to repair wounds with sutures.

Even the most experienced surgeon might sometimes refer to “sutures” as “stitches”, and vice-versa. Most people will understand what you mean if you use either term. But it’s important to understand the difference, nonetheless.

The Different Types of Sutures

There are three key ways to classify sutures:

  • Absorbable or nonabsorbable. Absorbable sutures will be naturally digested by the enzymes in your body, over time. Nonabsorbable sutures will either be left in permanently, or else they’ll be removed by a doctor at a later date.
  • Some sutures are monofilament, meaning they consist of a single thread, for quicker and easier stitching. Other sutures are braided, making for a more secure stitching.
  • Sutures will either be made from a natural or a synthetic material.

Suture Grades

To help surgeons select the appropriate type of suture for each application, sutures are graded by the diameter of the strand. The suture grading system involved an O followed by a number. This number indicates the diameter of the suture. The higher the number, the lower the diameter.

Types of Suture

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. We just want to provide a few examples of the different types of sutures, along with their applications.

  • A natural, absorbable, monofilament suture, largely used to close internal soft tissue wounds.
  • Polydioxanone (PDS). A synthetic, absorbable, monofilament suture that’s suitable for paediatric cardiac procedures, as well as in many types of soft tissue surgery.
  • Polyglactin (Vicryl). A synthetic, absorbable, braided suture that’s durable enough for use in repairing external lacerations, such as on the hand and face. Though as certain braided sutures can make wounds more vulnerable to infection, sutures of this type should not be used in cardiovascular procedures.
  • Nylon and silk. Nylon sutures are monofilament, whereas silk sutures are braided. Both types are nonabsorbable, and suitable for general use for most types of soft tissue repair.

Types of Suture Techniques

As well as selecting from different types of sutures, surgeons can also choose from a variety of suture techniques depending on the procedure.

Here are some examples of the types of suture techniques. But once again, please note that this is not an exhaustive list:

  • Continuous sutures. In which surgeons will make a series of stitches with a single strand of suture. A skilled surgeon can apply continuous sutures quickly, and as the tension’s distributed evenly across the wound, the stitch tends to be quite strong.
  • Interrupted sutures. Rather than making a series of stitches with a single suture, surgeons may instead make a stitch, cut and tie it off, and then make another – repeating the process until the wound’s closed. This technique takes longer, but the stitch can be more secure, as even if one suture breaks, the rest will stay in place.
  • Purse-string sutures. A type of continuous suture which involves stitching a suture around an area, before tightening it like you would the strings on a purse. One possible application of this type of suture is to secure a stapling device to the intestines.
  • Buried sutures. With this type of suture, surgeons tie the knot within the area they’re closing off. It’s a method for making secure stitches deep within the body, and typically, the sutures are not intended to be removed.

Types of Suture Needles

To apply a suture to a wound, surgeons will first attach the suture to a needle. There are a few different types of suture needles:

  • For easy manoeuvrability in small spaces. The curved shape of the needle allows the surgeon to stitch a wound by simply turning their wrist.
  • For making very precise and neat stitches. These are good for fixing external lacerations, but they’re unsuitable for deeper wounds, as surgeons need a lot of space to use them.
  • For when surgeons need to puncture tissue so they can pass through it. Most suture needles have sharp tips for this very purpose.
  • The rounded tip means that blunt suture needles can still separate tissue, but there’s less risk that they’ll inadvertently prick organs and other bits of tissue.

Surgeons will also use forceps and other types of surgical equipment to give them a tight grip and reliable control of their suture needles as they stitch wounds. Read our full guide to the different types of surgical forceps.

Taking Care of Your Surgical Instruments

Effectively sterilising and cleaning surgical instruments is an essential part of infection prevention and control in medical settings, particularly when the procedure involves working so close to soft tissues and open wounds. Taking care of your surgical instruments will also prolong their lifespan, keeping them as reliable as possible for as long as possible.

We have a few guides that will help you take better care of your surgical instruments:

At Cairn Technology, we have one of the most comprehensive offerings of high-quality surgical instruments on the UK market. Take a look at our range of surgical instruments.

For a free quote, or to discuss your surgical needs with one of our friendly experts, get in touch today.

Operating Theatre Must-Have Equipment Checklist

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Three things are vital to delivering an efficient operating theatre:

In this post, we’ll discuss the must-have equipment for any operating theatre.

Why Does Equipment Make a Difference in Operating Theatres?

Obviously, all operating theatre procedures depend upon specialist surgical equipment. You need surgical equipment you can depend on. But it’s just as important to carefully consider the rest of the equipment you use in the operating theatre.

Between each procedure, you’ll have to clean, decontaminate, or sterilise the operating theatre environment, your surgical instruments, and your medical equipment.

Any equipment you use will either be reusable or disposable. With single-use equipment, so long as it’s adequately stored and handled, you can use it during the procedure safe in the knowledge that it’s clean and sterile, and simply dispose of it in the appropriate waste channel following the procedure. But with reusable equipment, you’ll have to take appropriate steps to ensure everything’s adequately processed before and after each procedure.

In this way, the specific equipment you choose for your operating theatre can make a huge difference to your patient outcomes, and to your turnaround time.

Your choice of equipment can also influence your operational efficiency (through reducing clutter while providing ease of access, for example), and the comfort and safety of your theatre team.

Operating Theatre Must-Have Equipment Checklist

Surgical Lights

For illuminating the surgical site while eliminating shadows. Surgical lights can either be LED or halogen. Of the two, LED is more energy efficient. It also provides a brighter, whiter light, and it generates less heat, which can make things more comfortable for surgical teams.

Operating Table

The table upon which the patient lies for the duration of the procedure. Operating tables are often adjustable and with moving parts, to help the surgical team position the patient as necessary for the procedure.

Equipment Management Systems

These provide storage and ease of access for all the necessary surgical equipment, alongside housing for wires and cables.

This can improve operational efficiency through allowing the surgical team to easily access the equipment they need as soon as they need it. These systems can also reduce clutter, helping to remove tripping and slipping hazards.

Operating theatres may also contain warming cabinets, which can be used to keep fluids, linens, and blankets warm, to help reduce the risk of hypothermia during certain procedures.

Surgical Displays

Display systems can either provide up-to-date information about the patient’s status, or they can provide an intricate, magnified view of the patient’s inner anatomy during certain invasive procedures.

Surgical displays may be wall-mounted, or they may be attached to arms or columns.

Surgical Instruments

A surgeon’s tools of the trade. Surgical instruments are used exclusively in sterile spaces, and they’re specifically designed to penetrate a patient’s skin or mucous membrane. Different procedures will require different instruments.

We specialise in supplying high quality instruments for use across a broad range of surgical disciplines. If you’d like to discuss your surgical instrument requirements, get in touch to talk to an expert today.

Scrub Sinks

Operating theatre teams use scrub sinks to wash their hands and forearms before performing surgical procedures. Good hand hygiene is an essential part of effective infection prevention and control in operating theatres.

This is one area where the specific choice of equipment can make a huge difference to your theatre’s operational efficiency. An absorbent floor mat in the theatre or scrub room can help reduce slippery floors and can also reduce turnaround times between procedures.

The most superabsorbent mat, the T-Mat, can absorb up to 8.5 litres of liquid during a procedure, and afterwards your team can quickly and easily dispose of it in the clinical waste. This will dramatically cut down on your cleaning time, with no need for any noisy, time-consuming suction devices and tubing.

We Can Help You Deliver Exceptional Care Quality Standards in the Operating Theatre

Cairn Technology are approved suppliers to both NHS and private healthcare providers. We specialise in helping operating theatre teams improve efficiency and care quality standards.

As well as stocking a range of surgical instruments and specialist infection control products, we can provide expert advice on improving operational effectiveness in the theatre. Get in touch to discuss our products and services with  one of our friendly experts today.

Future Surgery Show, November 2023 – What To Expect

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The 2023 Future Surgery Show takes place 14 – 15 November 2023 at ExCeL, London. Expect two dedicated days of CPD accredited professional development, along with dozens of exhibitors demonstrating the latest in surgical innovations.

Cairn Technology will once again be exhibiting at Future Surgery. Visit us on Stand N80 to view our diverse range of advanced products and services for the medical sector.

Future Surgery Show 2023 – What to Expect

The event aims to bring together the whole perioperative team to explore future developments in surgery.

In particular, it will explore how innovation and new technology will change patient care and shape the future workforce. It will also provide insights into the latest and upcoming techniques.

You can view the full Future Surgery Conference Programme here.

The Theme for 2023’s Future Surgery Show

The 2023 event is focused on “Entering a New Era of Surgical Innovation”. Topics for this year may include disruptive technology, connectivity, human factors, training, and research to support change and improve care and safety standards.

Future Surgery 2023 Exhibitors

In addition to the packed conference programme, more than 100 suppliers will be exhibiting at Future Surgery 2023.

You can view the full list of 2023 exhibitors here

Cairn Technology will be exhibiting on Stand N80.

Cairn Technology at Future Surgery 2023

Here’s a quick overview of what we’ll be showcasing at Future Surgery 2023:

  • Stille Surgical Instruments – We’re the UK distributor of Stille surgical instruments, supplying specialist equipment for a wide range of surgical disciplines including cardiac, orthopaedic, and reconstructive surgery.
  • Workplace Air Quality Monitoring – We can help you ensure you comply with vital inspection maintenance requirements, including COSHH and (HTM) 03-01. Our workplace monitoring solutions are specially tailored to operating theatres, anaesthetic rooms, endoscopic departments, and more.
  • Fluid Management Products – Among other cutting-edge fluid management products, we stock the market-leading T-mat, a superabsorbent non-drip floor mat for operating theatres that can soak up and lock-in up to 8.5 litres of water or 3.5 litres of saline. This can promote a cleaner surgical environment, reducing the risk of cross-infections along with slips, trips, and falls.
  • Air Purification Solutions – We’ve partnered with air purification specialist Blueair to supply their specialist range of hospital-grade HealthProtect range of air purifiers. These can completely filter the air in a large room in as little as 12.5 minutes, removing up to 99.97% of particles down to 0.1 microns while killing up to 99% of viruses and bacteria.

Come And Talk to Us at Future Surgery 2023

To find out how our range of products can help you deliver surgical excellence in your healthcare setting, visit us on stand N80 at Future Surgery 2023.

But if you can’t wait until then, or if you have any questions before the event, get in touch. Our team of friendly experts will be happy to discuss your requirements and offer any help and support you need.

Call us on 0333 015 4345 or email info@cairntechnology.com.

Different Types of Surgical Forceps

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We recently put together a guide to the different types of surgical instruments, and their common applications. In this post we’ll take a closer look at the different types of surgical forceps, which are mainly used to grab and manipulate tissue during procedures.

Please note that different hospitals and surgical teams might use slightly different names for these different types of forceps. This is just a general guide, to provide a general introduction to the varied role forceps can play in surgical procedures.

At Cairn Technology, we supply high quality instruments for use across a broad range of surgical applications. Take a look at our range of surgical instruments.

The Different Types of Surgical Forceps

Dissecting Forceps

Surgical teams may also refer to dissecting forceps as grabbers, or thumb forceps. They’re available in a variety of shapes and sizes, all resembling tweezers.

Used for: Surgeons basically use these as more precise extensions of their fingers and thumbs, to hold and manipulate tissue and equipment.

Dissecting forceps can either be traumatic or atraumatic – which means their tips are either toothed or non-toothed. Traumatic forceps are used to hold and grip dense tissue. Atraumatic forceps are for gently grasping tissue without damaging it during delicate procedures such as dissection.

Hinged Forceps

Also known as locking forceps, or Haemostats, hinged forceps resemble a pair of scissors. Due to their flat edges, they can securely carry and lift tissue without damaging it.

Used for: Hinged forceps are used to hold tissue in place during certain operations, and to compress blood vessels that are to be tied off. Obstructing vessels and arteries in this way can also prevent blood flow during operations on organs.

Reverse Forceps

These are essentially the opposite of dissecting forceps. You squeeze dissecting forceps to close them. Yet with reverse forceps, you squeeze to open them.

Used for: This design provides uniform tension, which gives surgeons a greater level of precision and control for procedures such as tying sutures and applying or removing dressing.

Obstetric Forceps

Some forceps are specifically designed for certain procedures.

Used for: Maternity teams will make use of a variety of obstetric-specific forceps during labour and delivery, to safely extract babies during the crowning process.

Taking Care of Your Surgical Forceps

Effectively sterilising and cleaning surgical instruments is an essential part of infection prevention and control in medical settings. Taking care of your surgical instruments will also prolong their lifespan, keeping them as reliable as possible for as long as possible.

We have a few guides that will help you take better care of your surgical instruments:

. Cairn Technology supplies a range of handcrafted Stille surgical instruments that are warrantied for 30 years of service. Take a look at our range of surgical instruments.

For a free quote, or to discuss your surgical needs with one of our friendly experts, get in touch today.

 

How Do You Sterilise and Clean Surgical Instruments?

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Surgical instruments are used exclusively in sterile spaces, and they’re specifically designed to penetrate a patient’s skin or mucous membrane.

In this post we’ll discuss some best practice techniques for cleaning and sterilising surgical instruments.

Benefits of Effective Cleaning and Sterilisation of Surgical Instruments

Infection Prevention and Control
As such, cleaning and sterilising surgical instruments before use is an essential part of infection prevention and control in hospitals.

Prolong Surgical Instrument Lifespan
Effective cleaning and sterilisation can also prolong the lifespan of surgical instruments, keeping them as sharp and effective as possible for as long as possible.

Decrease Turnaround Time
And an efficient cleaning and sterilisation process can help streamline your entire department, helping to reduce the turnaround time between procedures.

The Difference Between Cleaning and Sterilisation

There is a difference between cleaning a surgical instrument, and sterilising a surgical instrument:

  • Cleaning – Using water and disinfectant to remove organic matter.
  • Sterilising – Using chemicals or specialist equipment to remove all microbes from an object.

A surgical instrument must be sterilised before use. But it must be visibly clean before it’s ready for sterilising.

How to Clean and Sterilise Surgical Instruments

Different instruments may go through different cleaning and sterilisation processes depending on their material, and their frequency of use. But this is the general process that the majority of instruments will go through between uses.

Step 1 – Preprocessing

Following a surgical procedure, surgical instruments are treated with transport gels at the point of use. These gels prevent the drying of bioburden, which can make later cleaning and sterilisation processes faster and more effective.

Step 2 – Manual Cleaning

Once treated with transport gel, the sterile instruments are taken to a dedicated decontamination area. All instruments will then go through a manual cleaning process. Some instruments may have to be disassembled first, to ensure that all of their surfaces can be cleaned.

Ideally, the manual cleaning team will have access to a three bay sink:

  • Bay 1 – Pre-rinsing instruments with cold water to remove transport gel, and organic matter such as blood and bone.
  • Bay 2 – Immersing instruments in a solution, which will be either neutral detergent or enzymatic depending on the instrument. Following immersion, the instruments are brushed by hand.
  • Bay 3 – Final rinsing. Depending on the instrument, manufacturers may recommend different treatments for the rinse water. If the water’s too hard, it can lead to spotting. Chloride levels can also damage instruments, and microorganism levels can lead to cross-contamination.

Step 3 – Automated Washing

Following the manual cleaning, surgical instruments will go through a specialist automated washing process. This is the sterilisation stage, where any microorganisms will be removed and killed.

Different instruments will require different equipment and processes, including:

  • Disinfectors – The instruments are sprayed with pressurised water at a predefined temperature, flow, and chemical concentration. Manufacturers will recommend the optimum parameters for each instrument.
  • Ultrasonic Cleaning – Some surgical instruments have delicate, hard-to-reach features including hinges and crevices. Automatic disinfector machines may not effectively clean these areas, so ultrasonic cleaning processes are used instead. This involves using high-frequency sonic waves to clean the entire surface of an instrument, often alongside low-foaming enzymatic cleaning agents. Instruments must be thoroughly washed with soft water following ultrasonic cleaning.

Step 4 – Storage

Following the cleaning process, surgical instruments are labelled to indicate the date they were cleaned. They are then carefully transported to, and stored within, a sterile environment until they’re ready for use again.

Essential Tips For Caring For Your Surgical Instruments

You’ll find many guides on our site to help you keep your surgical instruments sterile and in good working order for as long as possible:

We also specialise in supplying high quality instruments for use across a broad range of surgical disciplines. If you’d like to discuss your surgical instrument requirements, get in touch to talk to an expert today.

Types of Surgical Instruments – Names and Instrument Selection

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If we classify them according to their function, there are three main types of surgical instruments:

  • Cutting surgical instruments – Such as blades, knives, scissors and scalpels.
  • Grasping surgical instruments – Anything you use to hold something in place, such as forceps.
  • Retracting surgical instruments – For holding incisions open, or for holding organs and tissues out of the way while you operate.

Types of Surgical Instruments For Cutting

These are some of the most common surgical instruments for cutting:

Blades, Knives and Scalpels

We categorise scalpels by their size and shape, and each type is good for a different sort of application. For example, surgeons usually choose a number 10 blade for making smaller incisions in skin and tissue. Whereas a number 15 blade, with its small curve, is better for making short and precise incisions, such as when removing a skin lesion or opening a coronary artery.

Surgical Scissors

Surgical scissors come in a huge range of sizes. At the top end of the scale are heavy-duty surgical scissors, which can cut through thick tissue, muscle, and even bone. Mid-size surgical scissors use a combination of sharp and serrated blades to give precise cuts with minimal tissue damage. Surgical scissors with curved blades help you to make clean cuts without hitting any underlying tissue.

Smaller scissors include Vannas scissors and Castroviejo scissors, both of which are good for delicate applications such as ophthalmic and neurosurgical procedures. Finally, small sapphire blades can create precise cuts while applying a minimum of pressure, making them perfect for microsurgery.

Types of Surgical Instruments For Grasping

Like scissors and scalpels, surgical forceps come in a range of styles and sizes, each one suitable for different applications. Forceps can either have straight tips or curved tips. Straight tips provide more grip and precision, while curved tips provide more visibility.

Thumb Forceps

Some forceps you squeeze to open. These are thumb forceps, and they’re good for dressing wounds, removing dressings, and tying sutures.

Reverse Forceps

Other forceps you squeeze to close. These are reverse-forceps, and their design provides uniform tension for added precision, especially when you’re wearing gloves.

Locking Forceps (Haemostats)

Some forceps resemble scissors. These are called haemostats or locking forceps, and surgeons use them to securely hold tissues during delicate operations, and to compress blood vessels to obstruct the blood flow when operating on organs.

Types of Surgical Instruments For Retracting

In surgery, retractors can either hold a wound or incision open, or hold an organ or tissue out of the way so you can work underneath.

Hand Retractors

Hand retractors require someone – or something – to hold them in place for the duration of a procedure. Surgical assistants usually undertake this role.

Self-Retaining Retractors

As the name suggests, self-retaining retractors do not require anyone to hold them throughout procedures. They can use screws, ratchets or clamps to hold tissue in place. Alternatively, wire retractors use a spring system to keep things secure.

Choosing The Right Surgical Instrument For Your Application

Some surgical instruments are versatile. You can use them in a range of applications. But certain applications will demand more specific surgical tools – smaller, sharper, or more precise, for example.

Your surgical instrument supplier should help you choose the right instrument for your specific application. But here are some things you should consider to help narrow down your choice:

  • What procedure are you performing? Almost every procedure you could conceivably perform over the course of your surgical career will have been performed before. This means that there’ll be published research papers about almost every procedure. These papers will often list the surgical equipment used during the procedure. They may even make clear recommendations for which equipment to use for best results.
  • How often will you use the surgical equipment? Of course you’ll keep your surgical instruments clean between use. But it’s also important to remember that surgical equipment doesn’t stay sharp forever. If you intend to make heavy use of your surgical equipment, look for those made with more durable materials, as they’ll stay sharp for longer.

Need more advice in choosing the right surgical equipment for your application? We offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of surgical instruments in the UK, and our experts are always on hand to help you choose the equipment you need. Find out more about our surgical instruments.

Are Stille SuperCut Scissors Really a Cut Above the Rest?

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If you are a surgeon with an eye for excellent surgical instruments, you may have noticed that SuperCut-type scissors are no longer made exclusively by Stille, except when it comes to micro scissors.

This is despite the fact that the Swedish instrument company actually invented and launched the original SuperCut scissors in 1982.

However, despite there now being other makes of SuperCuts on the market, several independent studies have shown that Stille SuperCuts are continuing to outperform other brands. In fact, the findings might surprise you.

So what’s so good about Stille’s SuperCuts?

There are four key areas that set Stille SuperCut scissors above other brands:

1. Unique design for cutting

Designed for cutting all types of soft tissue, Stille’s SuperCut scissors have two cutting surfaces that are sharp to the very tip and work together in a unique way.

That is because one cutting surface is a scissor blade and one is a knife blade. This means that the surgeon can use the scissors to cut with extreme precision, relying on an instrument that combines maximum cutting power with minimal force to produce the perfect cut.

All other brands of so-called ‘SuperCut’ scissors are made differently from Stille, usually with serrations on one blade that are allegedly designed to grip tissue. However, due to the way that Stille handcrafts its SuperCut scissors, they are actually much sharper than other brands of ‘SuperCut’ scissors.

2. Ergonomic, ambidextrous design

Stille has also put a lot of thought into the design and ergonomics of their SuperCut scissors to create a light but balanced instrument that minimises fatigue and maximises efficiency.

With smooth finger rings, shanks designed for feeling and balance and a strong screw joint for maintaining the correct tension between blades, the scissors provide the surgeon with a smooth fingertip feeling.

The scissors are also flexible for the needs of different surgeons. For example, due to the way in which the scissors are sharpened, they can be used by both left and right-handed surgeons.

What’s more, the scissors have larger finger rings than some other brands, which is useful for surgeons with larger hands or those that use a double glove technique.

3. A removable screw for effective servicing

Another unique feature of Stille’s SuperCut Scissors compared to other brands is that its joint screw can be removed by Stille’s technicians during servicing to inspect for corrosion.

Other SuperCut brands do not have this capability, meaning that both the cleanliness and longevity of these instruments can be compromised.

This was supported by a study(1)that compared two German brands of scissors with Stille scissors. The study found that only Stille’s scissors had a screw that could be removed during servicing; it was also the only scissor with no signs of corrosion under the joint.

What’s more, the removable screw design ensures that the SuperCut scissors can be sharpened back to their original condition by Stille’s expert craftsmen during servicing. This is because large amounts of blade material do not need to be ground away, something that would inevitably change the shape and size of the blades until they are no longer close enough for a good cut.

In addition, by removing the screw during servicing, the surface of the blades can be fully resurfaced, removing any crevices where pockets of dirt may hide.

4. An outstanding 30-year warranty

Unlike other brands, Stille guarantees that their SuperCut scissors will last for 30 years, providing that they are handled and sterilised correctly and that Stille’s own expert craftsmen carry out any servicing.

In fact, Stille offer the first service for free, which is typically required after three years of use, although the surgeon decides when his or her instruments are ready for servicing.

Whilst a 30-year warranty might sound very long, date codes on Stille instruments returned for servicing often show that they have been in regular hospital use for more than 40 years.

This was also shown to be the case in an independent study to test whether Stille hand-crafted surgical scissors really did deliver on the manufacturer warranty of 30 years. In fact, the study found that 74% of the Stille scissors used in a busy surgical centre were actually over 50 years old.(2)

Want to see Stille SuperCut scissors in action?

If you would like to find out more about our Stille SuperCut scissors just click here (Link to new SuperCut Scissors section on website).

You can also contact our Cairn instrument team on 0845 226 0185 to arrange for a demonstration of our Stille SuperCut scissors or to evaluate an instrument on loan.

REFERENCES:

(1) Anette Karppinen, ORN, Access to crevices critical for surgical instrument safety. Presented SEORNA, Swedish Operating Nurse Association, Conference Meeting, 29-30 November 2012. http://www.stille.se/files/studies/whitepaper_instrument_safety.pdf

(2) Dahl G, Ölveback T, Wiklung L. Quality surgical instruments best investment. Presented: SEORNA, Swedish Operating Nurse Association Conference Meeting, 29-30 November 2012

Why Buying the Best Surgical Instruments Can Save You Money

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It might sound counterintuitive: How can an instrument that costs you several hundred pounds save you money compared to lower quality instruments that you can buy for a fraction of the price?

Below are four clear reasons why:

1.       Longevity

High quality surgical instruments are always manufactured with longevity in mind. Crafted by experts in instrument design and metallurgy, they understand how to create surgical tools that optimise performance and durability.

For example, top manufacturers will always choose the highest quality stainless steel rather than lower grade metal, as this will significantly enhance instrument longevity.

They are also likely to produce ceramic-coated instruments, which provide four to five times higher surface hardness than stainless steel, reduced abrasiveness and greater resistance to rust and corrosion.

They might also make instruments in Titanium, which is another high-performance metal that is recognised for its superior durability, being both fracture-proof and non-rusting.

What’s more, instruments that are hand-crafted, rather than made by machine, can have incredibly long life expectancy.

For example, in a study to test whether Stille hand-crafted surgical scissors really did deliver on the manufacturer warranty of 30 years, it was found that 74% of the Stille scissors used in a busy surgical centre were actually older than 50 years.(1)

2.       Cost-in-Use

Of course, whilst top surgeons and the sterilization services team might well value long-lasting surgical instruments, procurement teams charged with reducing operating room costs might find it hard to justify larger upfront costs for buying these products.

This is where a lifetime warranty comparison can really shine a light on the value of investing in higher quality instruments. By simply comparing the length of instrument warranties and dividing those time periods either by instrument cost or instrument use, it can be easily seen that the highest quality instruments will always be the star performers when it comes to value for money.

Obviously, high quality instruments with the longest warranties will prove the most cost-effective, so whichever instrument you are looking to purchase, make sure to research the various manufacturer warranties before buying anything. Whilst some will offer a 30-year warranty, others may only offer 1-5 years.

Alternatively, if your procurement team is considering single-use disposable instruments, a cost-in-use comparison with a high quality reusable instrument will invariably show the latter to be the most cost-effective investment.

For example, one study of laparoscopic instruments showed that “the total cost for single-use instruments would have been more than seven times that for reusable instruments.”(2)

3.       Minimal servicing costs

Another cost advantage to purchasing high quality surgical instruments is that they will often only need servicing every couple of years and some brands even offer the first service free within the initial purchase price.

What’s more, some high-quality instruments will be designed to allow for the instrument parts to be dismantled during servicing by the manufacturer, allowing for thorough inspection of corrosion at the joints to help maximise instrument longevity.

Low-quality instruments will not only require servicing more regularly, causing greater cost and disruption to instrument availability, they are also more likely to develop hairline fractures and corroded surfaces that mean effective servicing is no longer possible.

4.       Less environmental cost

There is also an environmental cost benefit for choosing long-lasting quality instruments over cheaper reusables in many cases.

For example, a study that compared mainly German brand reusable scissors to both German and Pakistani disposable scissors revealed that the reusable scissors were better for the environment. (3)

This is because whilst they take more energy to come to market, the reusable scissors are used thousands of times more than the disposable ones.

In addition, there is less ongoing environmental impact from servicing high-quality reusable surgical instruments than low-quality ones, which will require much more documentation, packaging, labelling and transportation for servicing.

Hold out for high quality

As can be seen from the above, it is easy to justify the greater outlay for purchasing high-quality reusable surgical instruments, even in the face of significant budgetary pressures.

In fact, the rapidity with which poor quality instruments degrade means that, even if you have missed the boat for submitting instrument requests for this financial year, it is worth waiting until you have the budget to buy the best in twelve months’ time.

To view our range of high-quality surgical instruments.

You can also contact our Cairn instrument team on 0845 226 0185 to arrange for a demonstration of our surgical instruments or to evaluate instruments on loan.

REFERENCES:

(1) Dahl G, Ölveback T, Wiklung L. Quality surgical instruments best investment. Presented: SEORNA, Swedish Operating Nurse Association Conference Meeting, 29-30 November 2012

(2) Gabriel N Schaer, MD, Ossi R Koechli, MD and Urs Haller, MD. Single-use versus reusable laparoscopic surgical instruments: A comparative cost analysis. American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology Volume 173, Issue 6, Pages 1812-1815, December 1995

(3) http://www.sustainable-manufacturing.com/files/ 982_JGARG-Review_1-2012_Scissors_Aug2012_7g0i26.pdf