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Chapter 14 Surgical Room Skills 253

Figure 14.1c shows one end of the surgical table. Note the
two knobs on each side. These are loosened so that the
entire table panel can be removed or, as shown in
Figure 14.1a, it can be set at an angle to keep the patient
from rolling. This will give you access to the bottom edge.
If the table panel is heated, care must be taken not to
damage the electrical cords attached at the other end. If
that is the case, simply park the table panel in an upright
position to clean. Spray disinfectant and paper towels are
used over each table panel. While the table panel is up or
out, remove the drip tray from the center of the table, cen-
tered under the table panels. This catches blood, urine,
feces, and other debris during surgery. If there is fluid in
the tray, tilt it into the catch bucket under the tray or move
the kick bucket under the tray to empty it into that.
Otherwise you will dump the liquid all over the place try-
ing to get the tray out. If the tray is full of dried debris, take
it to the prep sink to clean with a scrub brush and disinfec-
tant, or spray it with disinfectant and dry with paper towels.
Return the clean drip tray making sure it is seated on the
pegs that hold it in place. Use spray disinfectant and paper
towels to clean the base of the table, as seen in Figure 14.1b.
If surgeries are finished for the day, remove the rope
restraints seen in Figure 14.1d and run them through the
laundry with the towels used for surgeries.
Clean the auxiliary tables and carts in the surgery
room in the same manner as the surgical table. Check
the suture material, scalpel blades, surgical glue, and
other disposables like syringes, needles and tape for ade- FIGURE 14.2 Surgical tray.
quate supply; restock as needed. The surgical tray
(Figure 14.2), surgery tables, and other carts are moved
so the floor can be swept and then mopped beneath The prep room/recovery room; in some clinics this is
them. It is amazing how much dust, hair, and debris can the same room or two separate rooms. The prep room is
collect under them in just one day! Clean the door to the where the patient is prepped for surgery and the recovery
surgical suite on both sides with spray disinfectant and room or area is where it recovers from surgery. The prep
then the light switch panel in the surgical room. Once room is usually equipped with a prep table that has a
cleaned it should not be entered without a cap, mask, tub with a rack on top and a spray hose for rinsing
and shoe covers. (Figure 14.3). This sink is used for baths and cleaning
On a weekly basis, the entire room needs to be disin- wounds as well as for preparing the patient for surgery.
fected. Start with the ceiling using a wash towel and Therefore, it must be cleaned well and disinfected thor-
bucket of dilute disinfectant. Pay attention to the pole oughly after each and every use. The recovery room will
from which the light hangs from the ceiling, and any have kennels and perhaps a run which are maintained as
oxygen or air lines, which are cleaned with spray disin- described in Chapter 4.
fectant and paper towels. Use a handheld vacuum to As you can see in Figure 14.3, this prep sink has been
clean the air handling grates, do not spray them with used and requires cleaning. The clipper is cared for as
disinfectant, but you can use a paper or cloth towel described in Chapter 4. The warming blanket is sprayed
sprayed with disinfectant to wipe them clean. Remove with disinfectant on both sides and dried with paper
the room light covers and wipe them off inside and out. towels. It is set aside for the next patient or put away if
Bugs love to congregate in the light fixtures so it is surgeries are done for the day.
essential to clean them regularly. When finished with the The rack is cleaned by scrubbing it with a scrub brush
fixtures, wipe off the rest of the ceiling then down the on both surfaces. It is notorious for collecting blood,
walls with a cloth towel and a bucket of diluted disinfec- hair, pus, and other disgusting things on the downside of
tant. If there are windows in the surgery suite use a the bars. Once both sides are scrubbed, rinse it well and
window cleaner. Disinfect all of the surgical furniture to then cover it completely with spray disinfectant and
remove any dust or debris knocked down from the allow it to air dry. While it is drying, clean and disinfect
ceiling and walls. Sweep and mop the floor. the tub portion. Scoop out any large pieces of debris like