To ensure that surgical instruments are efficiently used further, they must be taken care of well. They should be delicately used and then reprocessed with care. They should be properly maintained to increase their life.
You must know how to maintain surgical instruments to keep them in better condition. The essentials are cleaning, sterilization, and proper storage for this process.
Follow our guide to increase the lifespan of your surgical instruments and get the most out of your surgical instruments.
Handle and store with care
Surgical Instruments are very delicate and they must be handled with care. They should be stored accordingly as well. Ensure that heavy instruments are not stored with smaller instruments, since that might result in the damage or breakage of surgical instruments. Ensure that no instrument is placed on top of another.
Cleaning off the residue
Healthcare staff often miss out on cleaning the instruments. They should ensure that no fluid or blood is left on the instruments to dry. It will stain or even pit on the instruments. Pitting would result in the rapid deterioration of the surgical instruments. If the residue like dirt, blood, body fluids, etc. isn’t cleaned in time, the surface becomes harder to clean as well.
Clean with cold water
Healthcare staff should clean the instruments with cold water instead of hot water. Heat causes the coagulation of the substance containing enough protein. They should clean the instruments with an enzymatic detergent. This will help the proteins to dissolve and break down into oil, and thus the instrument will be cleaned well.
Do Not delay the process of reprocessing
The surgical instruments should be reprocessed right after the use, to prolong their lifespan. This also ensures that surgical instruments are cleaned in time. And if there is a delay, then that would affect the performance and lifespan of the instruments.
Thorough inspection and testing
Healthcare staff should regularly inspect and test the instruments while cleaning. This will ensure if the surgical instruments can be used in theatres or not. Look for missing parts or if there is any damage. This will not cause any hurdles during the time of surgery or other operations. Few of the indicator to look for are as follow:
- See if there are any loose joints in scissors and hemostats
- See if the hemostat is getting locked and unlocked easily
- Put the needle holder up to the light, if there is a gap then it indicates that the tool is worn
- Bladed instruments should not have any chips and should be sharp.
If any damage is found, it can be immediately sent for repair, and arrangements for the new one can be made.
Don’t use the surgical instruments inappropriately
Healthcare workers should ensure that surgical instruments should be used for the procedure they are specified for. Using surgical instruments appropriately can damage them and affect their lifespan as well.
By following the above tips, healthcare staff can maintain their surgical instruments and can also extend its life. If they are given proper care, then surgical instruments can last for years. Do ensure to follow the specifications provided by the manufacturer while using any surgical instrument.
A huge factor in the increased lifespan of surgical instruments depends a lot on their overall quality. Our brands ensure that your instruments will last longer if they are properly taken care of.
If you have any queries, drop them down in the comments section below.