Inside the operating room, there’s little room for ongoing activity and bulky equipment. With limited space and stringent infection prevention protocols, every inch can help or hinder workflow efficiency, as well as patient safety.
OR size is determined based on equipment and staff required for surgical procedures, with enough room to accommodate both; this translates to ORs that fall between an average of 400-600 square feet.1
OR design also must include a scrub sink at every entrance, plus 4’ safe traffic pathways on all four sides of the sterile field; the sterile field includes the OR table width of 1.75’ plus 2’ on either side to accommodate staff and patient armrests. Minimal equipment assumed for surgical procedures includes anesthesia devices and supply carts, IV poles/tables, case or equipment delivery carts, prep stands, documentation stations, and more. The guidelines apply to outpatient surgical centers, which are typically about 250 square feet, slightly smaller than the average OR size of 400-600 square feet.1
Limiting bulky equipment can help OR staff make the most of their constrained work environments. Compact, space-saving tools like handheld surgical Dopplers that empower single-operator use can make a big difference.
When Equipment Impacts Workflow and Patient Safety
In the OR, 20.5% of operating time is spent addressing workflow disruptions.2 Room and team size, as well as the amount of equipment, all contribute to the clutter and crowding that can derail OR workflows.3
Minor disruptions, caused mainly by room design and equipment, can easily accumulate and become major ones, elevating the risk of surgical errors and infections; circulating nurse-related minor interruptions near the foot of the surgical table are related to an increase in major workflow disruptions.4
Process interruptions and unnecessary movement in the OR also can undermine infection protocols. Physical and unnecessary movement have been shown to increase microbial levels, elevating the risk of SSIs within the sterile field; increased disruptions from noise and the placement of equipment and materials further contribute to the risk of surgical errors.3
While some of the challenges presented by equipment is due to placement in small spaces, equipment cable management is an ongoing challenge in the OR. A meta-analysis of 775 studies, 1124 OR staff, and 5964 surgical procedures revealed that 64% of OR staff experienced workflow issues caused by cables and/or connections, with 78.5% reporting issues during device transport.5
The same meta-analysis further revealed that 22% of cables/connections on equipment in the OR had malfunctions, and that 45% of cable/connection problems were detected during surgery. The most common problems reported included cables getting tangled, staff having to hold cables during procedures, plugging/unplugging cables and connectors disrupting workflow and restricting staff mobility.5
The VascuChek® intraoperative vascular Doppler can help mitigate these issues without impacting workflow or causing distractions.
Minimizing Disruptions in the OR with Single-User Control
VascuChek is the first cordless, rechargeable, handheld vascular Doppler FDA-cleared for intraoperative and subcutaneous evaluation of blood flow inside a sterile field. Cutting the cord entirely eliminates the need for an awkward, tethered transceiver box and a second operator; its rechargeable battery delivers up to four hours of continuous use on a single charge.
Its handheld, ergonomic design delivers comfortable operation during surgical procedures, as well as during routine vascular blood flow assessments. And unlike the controls found on traditional corded vascular Doppler medical devices which require nurse-assisted adjustment, VascuChek controls can be accessed by surgeons during procedures with ease.
VascuChek gives surgeons complete control during surgery with easy, one-hand access to adjust volume, speaker output and power directly from the handheld device. With its single-use Doppler probes with aseptic sheath, VascuChek is the only handheld Doppler FDA-approved for surgical use.
To help address surgical disruptions caused by noise, VascuChek features two integrated speakers in the cordless transceiver, as well as an alternate Bluetooth® speaker to ensure optimal audio quality without interference from cautery or electric devices. It’s best practice during surgical procedures for surgeons to turn on and transfer to the Bluetooth speaker, which they control directly from the handheld device with just the touch of a button.
VascuChek further utilizes removable, single-use vascular surgical Doppler probes with aseptic sheaths to ensure reliability and sterility in the surgical field. Click, pull, and seal functionality empowers adherence to infection control protocols in the ER without slowing busy staff down.
Take Control with VascuChek
When every square foot counts, having a tool that can be operated with ease can be transformative to OR workflows. Wireless operation is a recognized way to eliminate obstructions caused by cords and cable management in OR settings.5
Developed alongside more than 100 clinicians, VascuChek helps keep ORs moving forward. With VascuChek in hand, surgeons experience complete control over blood flow assessments while freeing up nurses to perform more urgent tasks outside the sterile field, safeguarding patient safety and workflow efficiency with a convenient, space and time-saving handheld form factor that can go from the OR to the outpatient center and beyond.
Ready to cut the cord and the clutter? Book a virtual demonstration and see why surgeons reach for VascuChek.
Sources
- Burlingame B. “Operating Room Requirements for 2014 and Beyond,” FGI Guidelines Update no. 3, Facility Guidelines Institute, September 15, 2014, https://www.fgiguidelines.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/FGI_Update_ORs_140915.pdf
- Koch A, et al. “Associations of Workflow Disruptions in the Operating Room with Surgical Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis,” BMJ Quality & Safety 29, no. 12 (2020): 1033–45, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010639 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32447319
- Taaffe K, et al. “Operating Room Design Using Agent-Based Simulation to Reduce Room Obstructions,” Health Care Management Science 26 (2023): 687–702, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10729-023-09631-4 https://bookcafe.yuntsg.com/ueditor/jsp/upload/file/20251020/1760946364778068520.pdf
- Anjali Joseph et al., “Minor Flow Disruptions, Traffic-Related Factors and Their Effect on Major Flow Disruptions in the Operating Room,” BMJ Quality & Safety 28, no. 4 (2019): 276–83, https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2018-007957 https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/28/4/276
- Erbaş D, et al. “Problems Related to Cables and Connections in the Operating Room: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” BAU Health and Innovation 1, no. 1 (2023): 38–44, https://doi.org/10.14744/bauh.2023.55264 https://pdf.journalagent.com/bauhi/pdfs/BAUH_1_1_38_44.pdf