Surgical Supplies and Instruments Flashcards

Surgical Supplies and Instruments

• Abscess: Localized pus collection causing tissue destruction, can be subcutaneous or deep within the body.

• Anesthetic: Agent causing partial or complete loss of sensation, critical in surgical procedures.

• Cannula: Rigid tube for fluid escape after insertion, surrounding a trocar; used in various surgical procedures.

• Caustic: Substance capable of burning or corroding living tissue, relevant in surgical contexts.

• Curettage: Surgical procedure involving scraping of a body cavity with instruments like curettes.

• Dilation: Process of widening or opening a body orifice using a dilator.

• Diluent: Liquid substance to dilute and create solutions for injections, used with powdered medications.

• Dissection: Cutting or separating tissue with surgical instruments or scissors, essential for surgical exploration.

• Fornix: Recess in the upper vagina due to cervix protrusion, significant in gynecological surgeries.

• Impervious: Describes materials not allowing penetration; critical for sterile instrument handling.

• Infection: Microorganism invasion causing tissue damage, central concern in surgical procedures.

• Obturator: Metal rod that protects tissues during the insertion of hollow instruments.

• Patency: State of an open body cavity or canal, important for surgical access.

• Pathogen: Disease-causing organisms that pose risks in surgical settings.

• Permeable: Allows penetration; relevant in sterile materials and surgical instrument wrapping.

• Spore: Resistant form of bacteria that is dormant and difficult to disinfect, a concern for infection control.

• Stylus: Metal probe used for clearing or aiding passage through catheters or tubes.

• Transient: Temporary and not permanent, relevant in discussing time-related effects of agents.

• Vasoconstriction: Muscle contraction narrowing blood vessels; impacts anesthetic administration and blood flow during surgery.

Surgical Scrubs and Anesthetics

• Surgical Scrub Preparations: Must combat bacterial spores and transient bacteria, demonstrating persistent skin activity even with organic matter present.

• Anesthetics Types:

  • Topical: Includes sprays, gels, and foams, applied directly to skin.
  • Local: Injected to subcutaneous tissue, with common examples being Lidocaine and Bupivacaine.

• Ethyl Chloride Spray: Topical anesthetic causing freezing, effective for minor procedures, highly flammable.

• Epinephrine in Anesthetics: Used in highly vascular areas to prolong anesthetic effects by causing localized vasoconstriction.

Biopsy and Surgical Instruments

• Biopsy Protocol: Tissues from surgeries sent for pathology; preserved in 10% formalin with accurate labeling of patient information.

• Surgical Instruments: Classified by function into cutting, grasping, retracting, and probing/dilating instruments. Key components include handle, mechanism, and jaws, which may have serrations.

Suture Types and Usage

• Sutures:

  • Absorbable: Dissolved by body enzymes; ideal for inner tissue layers requiring no removal.
  • Nonabsorbable: Left in place until healing complete; suitable for skin or easily removable areas.

• Closure Materials: Includes staples, Steri-Strips for skin closure, and tissue adhesives for superficial wounds.

Asepsis and Sterilization

• Asepsis: Condition of being free from infection; critical in surgical settings.

• Medical vs. Surgical Asepsis:

  • Medical Asepsis: Reduces microorganisms; creates clean environments.
  • Surgical Asepsis: Complete destruction of microorganisms; required during invasive procedures.

• Sterilization Processes: Instruments must be sanitized, disinfected, and sterilized to eliminate all microorganisms.

• Autoclave: Uses moist heat and pressure to sterilize; achieves bactericidal temperatures (250°F) necessary for effective sterilization.

Instrument Handling and Storage

• Care of Instruments: Instruments should not be bundled; contaminated items placed in disinfectant post-surgery.

• Wrapping for Autoclaving: Must be steam permeable and allow for unwrapping without contamination; monitor and replace torn materials.

Quality Control in Sterilization

• Sterilization Indicators: Required to verify sterilization; types include chemical indicators (change color with steam exposure) and biologic indicators (tested weekly).

• Shelf Life of Sterilized Packs: No specific time limits; integrity of storage is key to maintaining sterility.

Chemical Sterilization

• Chemical Sterilization Protocol: Used for heat-sensitive instruments; requires submersion in chemicals for a minimum of eight hours.