4 Reasons to Invest in Stille Cardiothoracic Instruments

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Cardiothoracic instruments need to be precise, durable and easy to handle in order to provide the consultant cardiothoracic surgeon with optimum support. Here, we look at four good reasons to invest in Stille’s offering:

1. Cardiothoracic scissors that provide the ultimate cut

Stille made the original SuperCut scissors combining one knife blade and one scissor blade for precise cutting to the very tip.

Stille’s vascular scissors and dissecting scissors embrace this design, giving the surgeon exceptional cutting performance in delicate procedures.

Stille’s SuperCut vascular scissors come with fine or extra fine blades at 25°, 45°, 60°, 90° and 125° angles.

Its wide range of Stille SuperCut Mayo and Metzenbaum style dissecting scissors include delicate scissors with diamond coated blades for extended durability, and ergonomic versions for reduced hand fatigue.

 

2. Micro instruments for fine work through to heavy duty

Stille’s range of micro instruments is ideal for cardiovascular and cardiothoracic surgery. From ultra fine scissors to heavy duty needle holders and atraumatic forceps, the surgeon has an extensive range to choose from.

For surgeons preferring to use titanium for reduced user fatigue during procedures, Stille also offers titanium models of its micro needle holders and micro forceps.

 

3. Reduced carbon footprint

As Stille’s instruments are handmade through 70 stages with high quality stainless steel or titanium, they come with a warranty of 30 years, provided they are used, serviced and maintained as advised.

This means that their use involves a much lower carbon footprint for NHS and private hospitals, compared to disposable instruments or reusable instruments that are only warrantied for a couple of years use.

You can find out more how Stille surgical instrument help hospitals reduce their carbon footprint by clicking here.

 

4. Ease of maintenance for SSD

During manufacturing, Stille pays particular attention to both to the quality of finish on the instruments and effective design for maintenance, making it the ideal choice for your Sterile Services Department.

Even when servicing Stille instruments, its craftsman can take used instruments apart for optimum refurbishing, bringing them back to their original condition, before sending them back to you.

You can click here to find out how used Stille scissors are brought back to top condition during instrument servicing.

Want to find out more about our cardiothoracic instruments?

To read about Stille’s range of cardiovascular and cardiothoracic instruments, including vascular forceps, vascular clamps, nerve hooks and retractors, click here.

Alternatively, call us on 0333 015 4345 to discuss your needs.

 

Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons! Check out BAPRAS 2024

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Plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons and nurses should make sure that they add the BAPRAS Congress 2024 to their calendars.

Taking place from 4th to 6th December at the International Convention Centre in Newport, South Wales, the event offers a packed programme of interesting talks and presentations.

Day 1

The first day of the congress includes a presentation on the role of microsurgery in trauma, specifically hand-sewn micro-venous anastomosis versus venous coupler in free flap reconstruction.

Another talk will look at mutilating hand injuries, with a case series that explores whether the outcome of traumatic paediatric upper limb peripheral nerve injuries can be predicted using electrophysiology and ultrasound studies.

Day 2

The second day of the congress begins with the Inaugural UK Women in Plastic Surgery Breakfast Symposium and closes with the Annual General Meeting.

During the day, there will a variety of talks including one on a pilot case control study of Roboscope (Robotic Microscope) assisted cleft palate repair, as well as round table discussions on managing Postparetic Facial Synkinesis.

Day 3

The final day features the 7th Plastic Surgery Nurses Education Day with three sessions designed to help plastic surgery nurses to stay up to date with the latest issues.

The closing day will also include a range of talks on topics relating to breast, burns and abdominal wall surgery.

For more details on these talks and others at the BAPRAS Congress 2024 click here.

Plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons and nurses can also click here to register for the event.

More events for plastic reconstructive and aesthetic surgeons

There are several more plastic surgery events taking place over the Autumn and Winter. Just click here to find out more.

If you are unable to attend these, but you are eager to find high quality surgical instruments for plastic surgery, then feel free to explore our range of hand-crafted Stille instruments for aesthetic, reconstructive and plastic surgery. Just click here to view the Stille instrument range.

 

 

Supporting Sterile Services Departments with quality instruments

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The role of Sterile Service Departments (SSDs) is critical to the smooth running of operating theatres across the UK.

The timely decontamination and turnaround of full sets of instruments that are safe to use and perform to their optimum ability is critical to the smooth running of surgical lists.

But unfortunately, too many SSDs and instrument managers are being hampered by underinvestment in quality instruments, leading to a number of significant issues.

Damaged or missing instruments can cause a range of problems, not just for the sterile services department, but also for surgeons and patients:

  • Surgical procedures can be delayed or cancelled.
  • Hospital stays may be extended, aggravating bed-blocking situations.
  • Interoperative instrument breakage can put patients at risk.
  • Inability to effectively decontaminate instruments risks surgical site infections.

 

A sizeable problem for Sterile Service Departments

An audit carried out by the ABHI on 2020(1) showed that out of 32,000 instruments checked at 48 hospitals, less than 20% were in a good enough condition to be used.

In fact, 31% of the instruments needed to be replaced, 32% needed to be repaired, and 18% had issues with surface finish, including corrosion.

Another report, by Efthymiou and AR Cale(2) in 2022 revealed that surgical equipment failed in 92% of cardiac cases, 80% of which were surgical instruments. The report concluded that there may be as many as 1500 incidents a year of patient harm caused poor quality instruments.

 

Cheap reusable surgical instruments

There are many makes of resusable surgical instruments that are made from high quality stainless steel, are designed for optimum cleaning and come with warranties lasting decades. However, there is no doubt that the cost of investing in these upfront can be significant.

Budgetary pressures can mean that SSDs and instrument managers are forced to order much cheaper instruments. Unfortunately, these often come with only a one- or two-year warranty They are also made with lower quality stainless steel and have a more rudimentary design. This in turn means that decontamination is more difficult and damage more likely.

High quality instruments in contrast are often designed to optimise performance, decontamination and maintenance, even to the extent that their parts can be taken apart during servicing, allowing them to be restored to their original levels of functionality.

 

Carbon Footprint Considerations

Investing in good quality instruments also makes sense for the NHS’s plans to attain Net Zero. The NHS Carbon Footprint Plus considers an expanded scope of emissions, covering the products procured from its 80,000 suppliers. Sourcing cheap disposable or reusable instruments from thousands of miles away is not a sustainable approach for the long term.

Short-lived instruments also lead to more waste, not only in terms of instrument disposal, but also as a result of the increased number of manufacturing processes involved in making them.

Of course, having safe and complete instrument sets can be enhanced through consistent auditing, maintenance and training, but sterile services managers and instrument managers can only do so much with the instruments that they are given.

As the ABHI 2020 audit concluded, “Investment in the replacement of aged surgical instrument inventory should be considered as a priority for NHS spending” and “The procurement of surgical instruments should be based on overall quality and value, with the demonstration of strong ethical and resilient supply chains recognised and rewarded in purchasing decisions.”

In this way, we can support our Sterile Service Departments to help ensure that instrument performance and availability is always optimised.

References:

Are inco pads increasing operating theatre costs and waste?

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Hospitals that are concerned about operating theatre costs sometimes use inco pads or incontinence pads to absorb spills on operating theatre floors.

These pads do not offer a particularly high level of absorbency and are prone to dripping when lifted for disposal.

However, they are sometimes seen as a much more cost-effective alternative to absorbent mats that are specifically designed for this purpose.

So, we thought that we would take a look at our superabsorbent T-Mat, to see how it compares like for like with a standard inco pad that is currently on the market.

 

Busting the myth of cheaper inco pads

We took one of our T-Mats, which measures 72cm x 36cm and absorbs up to 8.5 litres of fluid and compared it with an inco pad of a similar size – 75cm x 57cm -which absorbs 0.67 litres of fluid.

In terms of per-mat cost, the inco pad is the clear winner, with a single T-Mat costing six times more than a single inco pad.

However, you would need to use around 13 inco pads to get a similar level of fluid collection as a single T-Mat.

This means that you would have to spend more than twice the amount on inco pads as you would on T-Mats to get the same amount of fluid absorbency on your operating theatre floor.

 

Reducing theatre consumable waste

The NHS Carbon Footprint Plus includes a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from supplier products, as outlined in Scope 3 of The Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

So as the NHS moves towards Net Zero, the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions generated from the manufacturing, shipping and disposal of theatre consumables becomes more pressing.

Consuming 13 times as many absorbent pads by choosing inco pads over a superabsorbent mat such as the T-Mat will clearly lead to a much larger carbon footprint, which now goes against the ethos and objectives of NHS environmental policy.

 

Other drawbacks of inco pad use

As well as costing you more overall, the use of inco pads in hospital operating theatres can also create particular risks.

Unlike our superabsorbent T-Mat, they are not able to lock in fluid and turn it to gel for easy non-drip disposal.

A dripping inco pad being lifted up for disposal in clinical waste not only risks cross-contamination but also creates slip hazards in the operating theatre.

What’s more, there is greater likelihood of drips and pools of fluid on the theatre floor after the operation, slowing down theatre turnaround time whilst the floor is being mopped and dried.

 

Trial it for yourself to see a reduction in operating theatre costs

If you are currently using inco pads in your operating theatres and would like to trial the T-Mats to see how they compare, you can get some free samples and see the results for yourself.

Just email the product sales team at Cairn Technology at info@cairntechnology.com or call us on 0333 015 4345.

For other ways that we can help reduce your operating theatre costs with reusable surgical instruments click here.

Should You Avoid Chrome-Plated Surgical Instruments?

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Chrome-plated surgical instruments have long been a popular choice for hospitals. They are durable and highly resistant to scratching, pealing, flaking, chipping, and corrosion. They’re also easy to clean and sterilise. Plus, smooth chrome-plated surfaces can reduce friction, meaning that instruments move exactly as expected during delicate medical procedures.

If you have heard that the EU is planning to ban chrome-plating on cars due to certain health concerns, then you may also be wondering if it is safe to use chrome on surgical instruments?

What Are the Health Risks of Chrome-Plating?

The chrome-plating process may involve Hexavalent chromium, which is a carcinogen. It may also use lead. If lead gets absorbed through the skin, it can lead to organ damage, and even brain damage. Some chrome plating-processes also use cyanide, which is highly toxic, and cadmium, which has been linked to cancers, as well as kidney and lung failure.

Environmental Impact of Chrome-Plating

The various heavy metals used in the chrome-plating process, as well as being harmful to human health, are also damaging to the environment. There may be a health risk to anyone who lives or works near a metal finishing facility. And if the facility does not treat its wastewater, it can lead to significant environmental concerns.

Should You Avoid Chrome-Plated Surgical Instruments?

There may be certain risks associated with using chrome-plated surgical instruments, as well as the environmental impact of the chrome-plating process. While there is no current or up-coming legislation looking to ban the use of chrome-plated surgical instruments, there are alternatives available.

Surgical Instruments – Chrome-Free Alternatives

If you want to avoid the potential health risks and the environmental impact associated with chrome-plated surgical instruments, the good news is that alternatives are available.

We stock the Stille range of surgical instruments. This range includes the Stille SuperCut XE scissors which  are made with an innovative chrome free coating process. Instead of chrome, they use a thin layer of diamond-like carbon. This makes them reliably durable and highly resistant to discolouration. The coating is also validated to withstand the more common hydro peroxide processes, such as Oxivario disinfection and Sterrad sterilization. What’s more, their dark surfaces reduce reflections to help minimise eye fatigue.

As well as offering dependable performance and unbeatable longevity, the chrome-free plating process also makes Stille instruments much more sustainable. Going chrome-free is a good way to reduce the carbon footprint of your surgical instruments, and this simple choice can also contribute to making your entire theatre more environmentally friendly.

Get Chrome-Free World Leading Stille Surgical Instruments From Cairn Technology

At Cairn Technology, we supply one of the most comprehensive ranges of Stille surgical instruments on the UK market. Our range covers all surgical disciplines, including cardiovascular, thoracic, orthopaedic, plastic surgery, and general surgery.

With their chrome-free plating process, Stille’s SuperCut XE scissors can contribute to a more sustainable theatre environment. On top of that, Stille’s precision surgical instruments come with a 30-year warranty, which is much longer than most other manufacturers.

This is one reason why many of our customers have switched to Stille instruments. As they’re so durable, and offer such a long warranty, these high-quality hand-crafted instruments will not have to be repaired and replaced as often as other instruments. They therefore provide hospitals with a more cost-effective investment over time.

Click here to learn more about our range of Stille surgical instruments, or  contact us to discuss your  our chrome free Stille instruments.

Women in Surgery in England – looking back, moving forward

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The number of women in surgery in England is growing, but there are still significant issues facing female surgeons.

According to the Royal College of Surgeons in England, the ratio of male to female consultant surgeons in the UK is approximately 8:1.

This disparity between male and female surgeons is marked. It reflects that fact that for many centuries women were barred by men from practicing surgery in the UK.

Only in 1876, did parliamentary legislation open up medical and university education for women. By the end of that century, women were able to study medicine at almost all British universities.

By 1919 there were only four women Fellows of the Royal College of Surgeons of England; 90 years later this figure was 1184.

Women in surgery today

Today, more women than ever are considering medicine as a career. In fact, according to the Universities and College Admissions Service (UCAS), in 2020, 64% of people accepted on to medicine and dentistry degree courses in the UK were women.

The numbers of female surgeons are also rising. Based on 2022 data from NHS Digital, in 1991, 3% of consultant surgeons in the UK were female and this rose to 14.7% in 2022. In terms of surgical specialisms, the highest percentage of female surgeons are in paediatric surgery at almost 30%, followed by plastic surgery at around 22%.

Issues facing today’s female surgeons

Whilst surgeons can already work long and unsociable hours, this lifestyle can prove particularly difficult for women who need to take on the main responsibility for parenting.

In 2021, the Kennedy Review made a key recommendation to deliver a flagship Parents in Surgery project to help current and prospective surgeons balance parenthood and a surgical career.

Then in 2022 the RCS England commissioned the Nuffield Trust to carry out an independent review of the impact of parental or caring responsibilities on pursuing a career in surgery.

All of this will hopefully help female surgeons to find a workable and healthier balance between providing their surgical expertise, whilst having time to properly care for their children.

Sadly, another issue facing female surgeons that has recently been highlighted in the media is that fact that many are experience sexual harassment or assault in the workplace.

According to a study published in the British Journal of Surgery, almost one in three female surgeons working in the NHS said they have been sexually assaulted in the past five years.

This has led the chair of the Women in Surgery forum at the Royal College of Surgeons of England to call for the creation of a national implementation panel to oversee action on the report’s recommendations and for incidents of sexual misconduct to be independently investigated.

In addition, a Guardian/British Medical Journal investigation found that more than 35,600 “sexual safety incidents” had been recorded in NHS hospitals in England over the past five years.

Clearly, these sorts of findings may in themselves put off some very talented women from entering the profession or indeed being able to continue in it.

Women together – support for female surgeons

Thankfully, there is a strong support network for women specialising in surgery. It’s called Women in Surgery (WinS) and is a national initiative dedicated to encouraging, enabling and inspiring women to fulfil their surgical career ambitions.

By registering for the WinS network you can connect with over 6,000 women from all career grades and specialties across the UK to collaborate, network and find support. To find out more and how to join click here.

 

 

 

Green Theatre Checklist Explained – How to Make Your Theatre More Environmentally Friendly

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The Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist was developed by a number of UK and Ireland surgical colleges. It provides some guidelines for how operating theatres can cut down on their carbon emissions and work towards sustainability in healthcare.

In this post we’ll provide an essential overview of the Green Theatre Checklist, and the guidance it contains.

A Brief Introduction to the Green Theatre Checklist

Studies show that surgery is a carbon intensive process. A single operation is estimated to generate up to 170kgCO2e, which is about the same as driving 450 miles in a petrol car.

The Green Theatre Checklist is divided into four sections:

  • Anaesthetic care
  • Surgery preparation
  • Intraoperative practice
  • Postoperative measures

Each section contains a number of guidelines and policies to support surgical teams in working towards better environmental, social, and economic impacts.

How To Make Operating Theatres More Environmentally Friendly

Below we’ll provide a quick overview of the guidelines contained within each section of the Green Theatre Checklist.

Anaesthetic Care

  • Source anaesthesia from your local area wherever possible.
  • Limit your Nitrous Oxide use to specific cases, and regularly check your equipment for possible leaks.
  • For inhalation anaesthesia, use sevoflurane instead of isoflurane, as it has a lower “global warming potential”.
  • Switch to reusable equipment wherever possible (such as laryngoscopes, underbody heaters, slide sheets, and trays.)
  • Minimise your drug waste. Introduce the policy: “Don’t open it unless you need it.”

Surgery Preparation

  • Switch to reusable textiles wherever possible, including theatre hats, sterile gowns, patient drapes, and trolley covers.
  • Reduce your water and energy consumption. Install automatic or pedal controlled water taps and adopt a “rub not scrub” approach: After your first water scrub of the day, use alcohol rub for all subsequent hand hygiene procedures.
  • Avoid clinically unnecessary interventions, such as the use of antibiotics and catheterisation.

Intraoperative Practice

  • Review and rationalise your surgeon preference lists, your single-use surgical packs, and your instrument sets. In each case, separate the essential vs. the optional, identify the surplus, and only open what you need when you need it.
  • Avoid any unnecessary equipment, again taking the approach: “Don’t open it unless you need it.”
  • Switch to reusable, hybrid, or remanufactured equipment wherever possible.
  • Switch to low carbon alternatives wherever appropriate (e.g., skin sutures instead of clips).

Postoperative Measures

  • Recycle wherever possible or use the lowest carbon appropriate waste streams. Use domestic or recycling waste streams for all packaging and use the non-infectious waste streams unless there’s a clear risk of infection.
  • Encourage active equipment maintenance and aim to repair damaged reusable equipment rather than replacing it.
  • When the theatre’s not in use, turn off all lights, computers, ventilation, and temperature control.

Access the Full Green Theatre Checklist

For more, you can access and download the full Intercollegiate Green Theatre Checklist.

Disclaimer – Infection Control Procedures

Bear in mind that these are just suggestions. They should not override your existing policies and procedures.

For example, working towards a green theatre should not come at the expense of infection prevention and control. Standard Infection Control Precautions and most PPE guidelines stress the importance of using disposable products so as to reduce the chances of cross-infection.

In this way, the Green Theatre Checklist seems to contradict infection control guidelines, as the checklist recommends switching to reusable equipment wherever possible.

As an operating theatre manager, you’ll have to carry out a thorough risk assessment so as to ensure that none of your Green Theatre policies compromise your infection prevention and control measures.

Help for Operating Theatre Managers

At Cairn Technology, we specialise in helping operating theatre managers improve efficiency, surgical outcomes, and staff and patient safety.

Find out more about our products and services for hospitals.

Or why not get in touch to talk to one of our experts today.

Plastic Surgery events in the UK in 2023

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If you are involved in plastic or reconstructive surgery, then this Autumn/Winter offers several excellent opportunities to learn and network with fellow consultant plastic surgeons.

From facial surgery and body contouring to oral surgery, hand surgery and much more, you are sure to find some benefit from attending the following events:

 

BAAPS Congress 2023 – 28th to 29th September

Taking place on 28th and 29th September in London, The British Association of Aesthetic Surgeons’ 2023 Congress will focus on Body Contouring & Facial Surgery.

BAAPS is a charity that aims to advance innovation, excellence, education and safety in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. You can find out more about the Congress by clicking here: https://baaps.org.uk/about/events/1636/baaps_2023

 

BSFPS – British Society of Facial Plastic Surgery Annual Conference 2023 – 12th to 13th October

Organised by the BSFPS, which was created to support training in facial plastic and reconstructive surgery for NHS and private sector surgeons, the Annual Conference will comprise of Juniors Day on the Thursday and the Annual Meeting on the Friday.

The main programme will cover all aspects of facial surgery, including optimising wound healing and scars, rhinoplasty, and Mohs surgery.

For more information about the BSFPS Annual Meeting or to register to attend just click here.

 

BAPRAS Congress 2023 – 29th November – 1st December

Taking place in Gateshead, this year’s BAPRAS Congress is subtitled ‘Interface’ to reflect the extensive working relationships that plastic surgery has with other surgical specialties.

In line with this, a number of different Associations and Societies are included on this year’s guest programme, including the British Orthopaedic Association, British Society for Surgery of the Hand, British Orthopaedic Oncology Society, British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and many more.

There will be several social events, including a networking evening for potential fellows, and the Association Dinner. Find out more here: http://www.bapras.org.uk/professionals/training-and-education/bapras-events/bapras-congress-2023

 

More Diary Dates for Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Events

Don’t forget to follow us on our social media channels, where we will be regularly posting about upcoming plastic surgery events in the UK. Plus, if you have an event that you would like us to mention, just email info@cairntechnology.com and we will be happy to share the news!

You can also browse our exceptional range of Stille handcrafted surgical instruments for plastic surgery here.

 

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.