By Surgical Tools
A surgical instrument is only as good as its level of cleanliness. That is something that any doctor, surgeon or medical professional would state. Even the most expensive and innovative surgical instrument could cause numerous problems if it is not sterilized and appropriately stored before and after being used. That is the reason why hospitals and medical facilities put so much money and care into discovering the most effective method for cleaning and sterilizing surgical instruments. Here is a review of current methods for cleaning surgical instruments and keeping them primed for use.Automated Washer DisinfectorsThe most common way to clean surgical instruments involves using automated washer disinfectors, or AWDs. These devices will clean and disinfect surgical instruments and other medical devices within a single cycle. It is a good idea to think about AWDs as being similar to dishwashers, but made just for surgical instruments. In the same way that a person organizes the placement of dishes, glasses, cutlery and other kitchen tools into a dishwasher, it is important to place surgical instruments into the AWD in the right way.The issue with placing surgical instruments the wrong way into the AWD is that said instrument may not get sprayed and washed completely. That is why it is necessary to position the instruments in the baskets so they get the spray and water in equal measures. The result is not only a sterilized instrument, but one that is thoroughly cleaned and does not have any chemical residue remaining from the sterilization.But this method is not without its issues. For instance, surgical instruments do not have a pre-determined size, which means that not all instruments are going to fit into the AWD baskets in the same way. Some instruments are short and wide, while others are long and thin. That means instruments may get too much or too little of the chemicals or water during the different cycles of cleaning and sterilization. Another issue is how many AWDs have unique spray systems, and the water pressure is not always the same in various locations.To correct for the size issues, different baskets and/or instrument sterilization trays specifically designed for particular instruments are available. Generally made of wire mesh, these baskets can also be custom-designed to ensure that the cleaning and sterilization process is optimized.Cleaning Spray on Surgical InstrumentsWhen a surgical instrument is used and temporarily put away, it is possible for it to get excessively dry. When the instrument is too dry, it is more difficult to clean. Again, we can go back to the dishwasher comparison, where people soak dishes before sticking them inside the dishwasher. With surgical instruments, a specific cleaning spray is used to keep the instrument moist before it is placed in the appropriate cleaning machine.Refurbishing or Buying a New Instrument?Medical facilities and hospitals are constantly having to decide between refurbishing older medical instruments or replacing them. If an instrument has a newer, better version, an upgrade is the way to go. It is a no brainer. But with instruments that are identical to the ones made 10 years ago, refurbishment can work as a treatment. Proper refurbishment gets the surgical instrument back to its original state at a much lower cost than buying a new one.
