Surgical Asepsis & Sterilization
What is the difference between asepsis and sterilization?
Asepsis is the absence of all disease producing organisms, whereas sterilization is the absence of all living microorganisms
What are towel clamps used for?
Used to maintain a sterile surgical environment by securing drapes and towels
What is the name of the large heating pad used in the surgery suite?
Hot dog warming blanket
What’s the difference between non-sterile and sterile personnel?
Non-sterile personnel can touch non-sterile items/areas, can’t lean or reach across sterile fields. Sterile personnel you can only touch sterile items, don’t walk away from the sterile field, and change positions around the sterile field.
What are ties or positioning restraints?
These are used to secure limbs during positioning.
What is autoclaving?
This method uses pressurized steam to sterilize equipment.
What are Mayo scissors?
These scissors are heavier and used for cutting tough tissue like fascia.
What is an electrosurgical unit (ESU)?
This device uses electrical current to cut tissue or control bleeding
What are the steps to sterile scrub?
Use antimicrobial soap and a soft sponge, scrub all four sides of fingers, hands, and arms, then scrub for at least 5 minutes, lastly keep hand above elbows at all times
What is clipping?
The removal of hair from the surgical site.
What is a pathogen?
An infectious organism that can cause disease in a host
What are allis tissue forceps used for?
Used to securely grasp, lift, and grab slippery tissues during procedures.
How can you check proper ET placement?
Initial cough when tube inserted, fogging in tube, blowing gauze or hair at the machine end of tube, chest rise, palpation (looking for one tube structure not two), and auscultation.
What are the steps to rinsing your sterile hands?
Rinse with arms till elevated, start at the tip of finger, let water rinse down to elbows. DO NOT TOUCH the faucet or any component of the sink and avoid splashing yourself, and keep arms elevated to begin to dry with a sterile towel.
What are the four considerations when scheduling surgeries?
Cleanest to dirtiest cases, more difficult cases earlier, patient status, equipment needs and avaliability
What is aseptic technique?
This term refers to practices that keep an area free from infection causing organisms.
What is the difference between the kelly forceps and the crile forceps?
The crile forceps have horizontal serrations all the way down the jaws and the kelly forceps have horizontal serrations on the distal half.
What are the possible risks of using suction?
Excessive vacuum pressure and tissue entrapment
What is the process of drying sterile hands/arms?
Use a sterile towel, open towel full length, dry with circular motions, starting at the finger tips, hands, and then forearm, then move down to continue drying and use the opposite side of the towel and repeat the process.
Why is surgical hand scrubbing important?
Surgical hand scrubbing removes dirt, oils, and reduces microorganisms on the hands and arms before surgery.
What chemical solution do we use for cold sterilization?
Glutaraldehyde
What is the difference between the Rochester Pean and the Rochester Carmalt
The rochester carmalt forceps have vertical serrations with cross serrations at the tip and the rochester pean forceps have horizontal serrations along the jaws
What’s the difference between a gravity air-displacement and a high-vacuum?
A gravity displacement allows steam to passively push air out, and a high-vacuum uses a mechanical pump to remove air completely.
What are two roles for the circulator nurse (intra-operative)?
Open sterile packs and drop them into the sterile field, operate non sterile equipment and anticipate needs of surgical team
Q:What are 5 of the instruments used for a spay pack?
Straight kelly forceps, curved kelly forceps, curved mosquito- halsted forceps, allis tissue forceps, crile forceps, mayo scissors, rochester carmalts, sharp-blunt scissors, olsen-hegar needle drivers, rat-tooth thumb forceps, adson-brown thumb forceps, towel clamps, spay hook, straight mosquito-halsted forceps, and #3 scalpel handle.