Handling surgical instruments with care is essential to ensure their long life and efficiency. Healthcare staff should ensure that all surgical instruments are handled with care and there should be no negligence. Here are a few ways and tips to make sure that surgical instruments are handled well.
1. clean and disinfect properly
All instruments must be cleaned and disinfected properly after being used in surgical procedures. The instruments must be washed within 30 minutes of the surgery. To ensure that the blood doesn’t dry, the instrument should be wrapped up in a damp towel. The staff should ensure that the instruments aren’t exposed to psychological saline solutions for a long time since it promotes oxidation.
The instruments must be washed with running water and it should be done manually by using hard plastic brushes. The instruments then must be kept in water that contains enzymatic detergent at a neutral pH. This will ensure that there is no coagulation of protein substances. Always use new washing solutions instead of used ones since overuse leads to chemical concentration. One of the most effective ways to clean is ultrasonic cleaning by cavitation.
To disinfect the surgical instruments, they should be immersed in enzymatic detergent, for 90 minutes at 25°C, at a neutral pH. They should be rinsed in distilled water and dried using paper towels.
2. Apply Lubricant
The process of cleaning may affect the instrument’s joints to get stiff. This takes place due to mineral deposits in the water system. The metal to metal friction also causes corrosion. Therefore, we recommend applying lubricant by spraying it on the instruments after every cycle of cleaning.
3. Inspect the instruments
After the process of cleaning, the instruments must be carefully inspected to check if any material is left. This helps to ensure that the surgical instruments are clean and they are in a good condition. The staff can also check if they are working properly. If by any chance the instrument isn’t working properly and isn’t inspected, it will affect the surgical procedure at that time. If it is inspected, it can be sent for repair or a new one can be arranged.
4. Sterilize the surgical instruments
Sterilization is a very important process. It ensures that no bacteria is left on the surface of the surgical instruments. The instruments should be placed carefully on the tray and heated. The tray shouldn’t be overloaded since it can damage other instruments and the steam wouldn’t reach all surfaces. The temperature and cycle duration should be followed as instructed by the company. It is not at all recommended to use dry heat.
If any instruments are unpackaged, they should be immediately used. It is essential to store packed instruments in dry and closed spaces.
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