Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Operating Room Technicians”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 325 records · Page 18Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Reliability and performance of innovative surgical double-glove hole puncture indication systems.

During operative procedures, operating room personnel wear sterile surgical gloves designed to protect them and their patients against transmissible infections. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has set compliance policy guides for manufacturers of gloves. The FDA allows surgeons' gloves whose leakage defect rates do not exceed 1.5 acceptable quality level (AQL) to be used in operating rooms. The implications of this policy are potentially enormous to operating room personnel and patients. This unacceptable risk to the personnel and patient could be significantly reduced by the use of sterile double surgical gloves. Because double-gloves are also susceptible to needle puncture, a double-glove hole indication system is urgently needed to immediately detect surgical needle glove punctures. This warning would allow surgeons to remove the double-gloves, wash their hands, and then don a sterile set of double-gloves with an indication system. During the last decade, Regent Medical has devised non-latex and latex double-glove hole puncture indication systems. The purpose of this comprehensive study is to detect the accuracy of the non-latex and latex double-glove hole puncture indication systems using five commonly used sterile surgical needles: the taper point surgical needle, tapercut surgical needle, reverse cutting edge surgical needle, taper cardiopoint surgical needle, and spatula surgical needle. After subjecting both the non-latex and latex double-glove hole puncture indication systems to surgical needle puncture in each glove fingertip, these double-glove systems were immersed in a sterile basin of saline, after which the double-gloved hands manipulated surgical instruments. Within two minutes, both the non-latex and latex hole puncture indication systems accurately detected needle punctures in all of the surgical gloves, regardless of the dimensions of the surgical needles. In addition, the size of the color change visualized through the translucent outer glove did not correlate with needle diameter. On the basis of this extensive experimental evaluation, both the non-latex and latex double-glove hole puncture indication systems should be used in all operative procedures by all operating room personnel.

Equipment Design↗
PubMed2003

Creating another barrier to the transmission of bloodborne operative infections with a new glove gauntlet.

While disposable surgical gowns are designed to be either liquid-resistant or liquid-proof apparel, the woven cuffs of surgical gowns are easily permeable to water, an invitation to the transmission of bloodborne infections. Regent Medical has redesigned the diameter of some of its surgical glove gauntlets to enhance the security of the glove/surgical cuff interface. The purpose of this biomechanical performance study was to evaluate the benefit of a narrow glove gauntlet in enhancing the security of the gown and cuff interface. Using three types of disposable gown, the narrow glove gauntlet significantly increased the security of the gown-glove interface. On the basis of this biomechanical performance study, Regent Medical has announced that it will be using this narrow glove gauntlet design on more of their glove products to further reduce the transmission of bloodborne operative infections.

Biomechanical Phenomena↗
PubMed2003

Recommendations for postexposure prophylaxis of operating room personnel and patients exposed to bloodborne diseases.

The purpose of this collective review is to discuss management of operating room personnel who have had occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids that might contain hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I). HBV postexposure prophylaxis includes starting hepatitis B vaccine series in any susceptible unvaccinated operating room personnel who sustain an exposure to blood or body fluid during surgery. Postexposure prophylaxis with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) is an important consideration after determining the hepatitis B antigen status of the patient. Ideally, all operating room personnel should be vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine before they pursue their career in surgery. Immune globulin and antiviral agents (e.g., interferon with or without ribavirin) should not be used for postexposure prophylaxis of operating room personnel exposed to patients with HCV; rather, follow-up HCV testing should be initiated to determine if infection develops. Postexposure prophylaxis for HIV involves a basic four-week regimen of two drugs (zidovudine and lamivudine; lamivudine and stavudine; or didanosine and stavudine) for most exposures. An expanded regimen that includes a third drug must be considered for HIV exposures that pose an increased risk for transmission. When developing a postexposure prophylaxis regimen, it is helpful to contact the National Clinicians' Postexposure Prophylaxis Hotline (1-888-448-4911).

Blood-Borne Pathogens↗
PubMed2006

Serum and breast milk levels of methylmethacrylate following surgeon exposure during arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although pregnant personnel are commonly encouraged to leave the operating room during the mixing and application of polymethylmethacrylate, we are not aware of any information regarding the safety of exposure to methylmethacrylate fumes for breastfeeding women. The present study was performed to investigate the concentrations of methylmethacrylate in serum and breast milk following exposure during total joint arthroplasty. METHODS: A survey designed to determine present-day attitudes to polymethylmethacrylate exposure during pregnancy and lactation was sent to members of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society and the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses. To define the presence or absence of a scientific basis for this behavior, serum and breast milk samples were collected from two lactating surgeons at selected intervals after exposure to methylmethacrylate during eight total joint arthroplasty procedures. Two healthy breastfeeding women without exposure to methylmethacrylate served as controls. All twenty-five samples were analyzed for methylmethacrylate with use of a previously published headspace gas chromatography protocol. RESULTS: The gas chromatography protocol detected methylmethacrylate at levels as low as 0.5 part per million. No serum or breast milk sample demonstrated evidence of methylmethacrylate at that level, nor did any surgeon sample test at a higher level than the control specimens. Serum and milk samples spiked with methylmethacrylate yielded the analyte peak as expected, evidencing no interference from either matrix. CONCLUSIONS: Methylmethacrylate was not detectable at the 0.5-part-per-million level in serum or breast milk following inhalational exposure during total joint arthroplasty. Although a controlled longitudinal relative risk analysis was not performed and the sample size was relatively small, pregnant or breastfeeding women may use this information to make an informed decision regarding such exposure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level II.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Occupational standards and professional development.

Last week, Edwards (1998) examined the use of occupational standards in developing the surgical assistant's role. In this article the author describes the preliminary findings from a separate study to assess competency in professional development programmes.

Guidelines as Topic↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Surgeon--assistant communication.

Although conflict is often viewed negatively, in reality, patient care can be enhanced by a combination of conflict and collaborative techniques. Strategic timing, along with an appropriate location for the interaction, is important in resolving a disagreement. A defensive approach will only cause an interaction to escalate--use a calm, objective approach instead.

Anger↗
PubMed1991

Staffing formulas determine correct levels.

In this time of nursing shortages and cost containment, OR managers must determine the correct staffing for their hospital. They cannot afford to be overstaffed, nor can they risk being understaffed. This article will describe two staffing formulas and discuss RN-to-technologist ratios and personnel assigned per room.

Models, Theoretical↗