Surgical Instrument Repair: Ensuring Precision and Safety

Overview

Surgical instruments play a critical role in medical procedures, enabling Healthcare providers to perform intricate tasks with precision. These instruments are typically made of stainless steel and are designed to be reprocessed and reused. Proper maintenance and repair are essential to ensure their longevity and optimal performance.

Highly trained surgical instrument repair technicians inspect, performance test, and repair surgical instruments to ensure functionality, helping to reduce downtime and extend their life.

Importance of Maintaining Instrument Quality

Regular maintenance of surgical instruments is required to ensure optimal performance and patient safety. Here’s why:

Enhanced Performance: Regular maintenance is required to maintain the integrity and functionality of the surgical instrument. Dull or damaged instruments could compromise surgical outcomes and increase procedure time.
Precision and Functionality: Inspection for defects and performance testing of the instruments enables the technician to perform the repairs required to maintain precision and functionality. Well-maintained instruments contribute to successful surgeries and positive patient outcomes.
Longevity: Regular inspections allow for timely repairs or replacements, preventing further damage and ensuring longevity.
Patient Safety: Well-maintained instruments can reduce the risk of complications during surgery. Instruments with rust, pitting, or other issues can negatively impact patient safety.

Regular instrument maintenance is a critical component of being compliant with CMS standards.

Surgical Instrument Cleaning, Reprocessing, and Care

Proper cleaning and care of surgical instruments is crucial to ensure patient safety and maintain functionality. Following the manufacturer’s Instructions For Use (IFU) for cleaning and caring for instruments is critical. Here are some essential steps for processing surgical instrumentation:

Manual Cleaning:

Manually cleaning surgical instruments removes visible tissue, blood, or other contaminants.
Use a soft-bristled brush under running water, focusing on crevices and hard-to-reach areas.
Use chemistries approved for medical devices to avoid harm to instruments. For example, Prolystica Surgical Instrument Cleaning Chemistries not only do not harm instruments, but also protect them from harm by using patented formulations to prevent instrument degradation.
Dilute the cleaning solution according to the manufacturer’s instructions and change it regularly to prevent cross-contamination.

Ultrasonic Cleaning:

Ultrasonic cleaners use powerful sound waves to create cavitation, removing residual soils from intricate instruments.
Ultrasonics can be particularly useful for washing hard-to-reach areas on a medical device, including fine serrations and box lock joints.
Only use ultrasonic cleaning if the IFU states to - some instruments can be damaged in sonics such as chrome plated, powered instruments, or delicate microsurgical instruments.

Inspection:

After each use, inspect the instruments for visible signs of damage or wear. Look for rust, pitting, or other indications.
Instruments with visible damage should be sent for repair or replacement if necessary.

Drying and Sterilization:

After drying, instruments typically undergo sterilization or high-level disinfection to ensure they are safe for patient use.

Various governing agencies and standards provide guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting surgical instruments. These guidelines ensure safe patient outcomes and proper reprocessing. Always follow specific instructions from manufacturers to maintain instrument quality.

The specific guidelines around cleaning come from many sources, but the most common ones are ANSI/AAMI ST79, ANSI/AAMI ST58, and ANSI/AAMI ST91. These standards address different aspects of cleaning, sterilization, and high-level disinfection and are crucial in maintaining instrument safety and efficacy.

Maintenance and Types of Repairs

Over time, surgical instrument performance can decline due to wear and tear, necessitating maintenance and expert repair to extend their lifespan and optimize functionality. Repairs for surgical instruments are vital and can include various instruments, such as:

Scissors: Inspect for bio-burden, cracks, misalignment, pitting, bends, and burrs. Frequent testing for sharpness and smooth action is essential.

Forceps: Inspect for bio-burden, cracks, misalignment, and pitting.

Locking Forceps/Needle Holders: Inspect for bioburden, cracks, misalignment, and pitting. Verify smooth action and test ratchet functionality.

Retractors: Inspect for bio-burden, cracks, misalignment, and pitting. Verify smooth action and test ratchet functionality.

Suction: Inspect for bio-burden, cracks, and pitting.

Types of Repairs for Surgical Instruments

Sharpening
Insert Replacements
Cleaning

Screw Replacements
Dent Removals
Alignment and Lubrication

Why Surgical Instrument Repair Service Matters

Properly maintained and functioning instruments are critical to positive patient outcomes.

Procedure-Ready Instruments: Facilities need confidence that instruments are ready for procedures.
Extended Lifespan: Surgical instrument repair services help extend the lifespan of surgical instruments.
Educational Resources: STERIS offers educational resources to reduce unnecessary repair costs and instrument damage.
Technicians and Expertise: Skilled surgical equipment repair technicians play a vital role. Properly trained technicians help ensure instruments are procedure-ready.

Regular maintenance prevents extensive damage and minimizes costly repairs. STERIS Instrument Management Services provides proactive maintenance and comprehensive repair services for various surgical instruments, including general, laparoscopic, and microsurgical instruments. Their expertise covers multiple surgical instruments, including laparoscopic and microsurgical variants.