Surgical Equipment & Supplies

Question 1

Asepsis

Answer 1

a term used to describe a condition of sterility where there are
NO living organisms present

Question 2

Aseptic Technique

Answer 2

method used to prevent contamination by
microorganisms

Question 3

Sources of contamination

Answer 3

Environment
Surgical Instruments
Personnel
Patient

Question 4

Nosocomial infection

Answer 4

hospital-
acquired infection

Question 5

Sterilization

Answer 5

destruction all ALL microorganisms (virus, bacteria,
spores) from an inanimate object

Question 6

Disinfection

Answer 6

destruction of MOST microorganisms from an
inanimate object or living organisms

Question 7

Steam Sterilization

Answer 7

Pressured steam
Most common and efficient

Question 8

Gas Sterilization

Answer 8

• Ethylene oxide
• Expensive
• Flammable and explosive

Question 9

How does an autoclave
work?

Answer 9

*The autoclave produces a high-temperature, pressurized steam that
penetrates the surgical packs and kills ALL microorganisms
Typically 250 F at 15 PSI for 15 minutes
ER situations 250 F at 30 PSI for 3 minutes (‘flash’ sterilization)
*To destroy all living microorganisms, the correct temperature, pressure,
and exposure time are critical

Question 10

What will you autoclave?

Answer 10

*Surgical instruments
*Gowns
*Drapes

Question 11

Anatomy of a ‘surgical pack’

Answer 11

*All items are wrapped in two layers of wrapping material.
*Materials should be packed loosely so the steam can penetrate into the
interior
*Don’t ‘over stuff’ an autoclave – steam can’t penetrate interior
*The thicker the pack, the more difficult it is to penetrate interior contents
* A gown pack might need 30 minutes in an autoclave

Question 12

How to determine if a pack is
sterilized?

Question – where should this strip
go in a pack??

Answer 12

*Indicator Strips – Tells us that
the contents of the pack have
been exposed to steam at the right
temperature and pressure and for
the proper amount of time.
Goes in the middle of the pack (heat can easily be exposed to the top or the bottom)

Question 13

Autoclave Tape

Answer 13

*All packs are closed with a piece of autoclave tape
*Useful for identifying which packs have been autoclaved
*Doesn’t tell us if contents are sterilized!
*We write our initials and the date the pack was autoclaved on the tape –
sterilized items are considered sterile for only 8 weeks (if kept in closed
cabinet)

Question 14

Not all instruments are
wrapped in packs. Why?

Answer 14

*Some instruments placed in
instrument pouches
*More expensive than wrapping
material
*Usually has the indicator strip built
in to the pouch

Question 15

Cold Chemical Sterilization

Answer 15

*Soaking instruments in a disinfecting solution
*Does not produce heat; sterilization cannot be
guaranteed
*Items kept in a special tray
*Usually reserved for ‘dirty’ surgical procedures
(abscesses, infected wounds)

Question 16

Instrument Cleaning

Answer 16

*Instruments must be cleaned before
being wrapped and autoclaved.
*The autoclave will ‘bake on’ blood and
other organic debris
*As soon as the procedure is over,
instruments should be rinsed (usually in
distilled water) to avoid drying of blood
and tissue.

Question 17

Ultrasonic

Answer 17

• Instruments are rinsed
• Ratchets and box locks are opened up (hiding places for debris and bacteria!)
• Uses high frequency sounds waves to clean in places a brush can’t reach
• Removed from ultrasonic cleaner, rinsed, lubricated, then dried
• Can then be wrapped in a pack and autoclaved

Question 18

Enzymatic Cleaning

Answer 18

• Manually cleaned with instrument cleaner and soft brush
• Pay particular attention to nooks and crannies (box locks, serrations, and hinges)

Question 19

Lubrication

Answer 19

*No WD-40!
*After cleaning (enzymatic or ultrasonic), lubricate
with ‘instrument milk’

Question 20

Surgical Lights

Answer 20

Use handle to move surgical light to achieve optimal lighting over area where incision
will be made

Some hospitals may have assistants place a sterile surgical light cover.
This allows the surgeon to adjust the light themselves during surgery.

Question 21

Suction Unit

Answer 21

Used to remove fluids and blood from a patient during a surgical procedure

The handle the surgeon holds is sterile, the rest of the machine is not.

Question 22

Cautery Unit

Answer 22

• Creates a high degree of heat at the electrode tip
• Using a small handheld device, a heated wire tip is applied to the targeted tissues
• Used to seal blood vessels and control hemorrhage