Theatre practice Flashcards
sepsis definition
the presence of pathogens or their toxic products in the blood or tissues of the patient
asepsis definition
freedom from infection
antisepsis definition
prevention of sepsis by destruction or inhibition
disinfection definition
removal of MO’s but not necessarily spores
sterilisation definition
complete removal of MO’s and their spores
virulence definition
severity of a disease
surgical site infection definition
infection in a wound post surgical intervention
factors which may contribute to surgical site infections
4 key areas:
- animal (endogenous, exogenous)
- personnel
- theatre space and environment
- equipment, instruments and consumables
Sterilisation is divided into:
heat sterilisation:
- autoclave
- dry heat
cold sterilisation:
- ethylene oxide
- commercial solution
- gamma radiation
how does the autoclave work
through high temp and pressure
packaging markers to indicate sterilisation
- chemical indicator strips (TST)
- bowie-dick indicator tape
- browne’s tubes
- spore tests
TST strips
indicate correct temp, time and pressure
browne’s tubes
- colour change (orange-green)
bowie-dick indicator tape
- colour change (-> brown)
- only shows 121 degrees reached
spore tests
- strips impregnated with spores
- incubated after
- delayed results
ethylene oxide sterilisation
- highly effective, wide range of equipment
- gas (toxicity)
- long process + 24hr airing time
principles of surgical scrub techniques
- thorough, timed or numbered stroke method
- systematic approach
- wash from clean to less clean areas (hand to arm)
tensile strength definition
how much you can pull it before it snaps
knot security
how easily the knot can uncoil
tissue drag/chatter
smoothness of the suture pulling through the skin
capiliarity definition
ability to absorb infection
memory- suture definition
does it stay coiled when removed from packaging
classification of suture materials
- absorbable or non-absorbable
- natural or synthetic
- multifilament or monofilament
- short, medium, long term
interpreting the suture pack
- product name
- description of suture
- length of suture
- suture gauge
- batch No.
- expiry date
- article code
interpreting the suture outer packaging
- metric + imperial gauge
- needle size and curvature
- needle type, point, profile
components of a needle
- eye
- body
- point
7 needle shapes
- 1/4 circle
- 1/2 circle
- 3/8 circle
- 5/8 circle
- 1/2 curve
- straight
- compound curve
gossypiboma definition
surgical gauze retained in the body following surgery
surgical safety checklist purpose
reduces complications and mortality
how to reduce the risk of gossypiboma
- pack swabs in counted bundles before sterilisation
- note number of swabs in use on board
- all swabs must have an x-ray detectable marker
- lap swabs have a tag that can be attached to drape
- scrubbed nurse should keep count (begining of case, before closure of hollow organ, before closure of cavity and at end of case
checklist definition
a list of items required, things to be done, or points to be considered, used as a reminder
