Do you use "space suits" for Totals and why?

[shodobe]

I have noticed over a period of time threads concerning total joints and wondered how many out there actually use the "space suits" in these procedures. The two facilities where i work doesn't use them and wondered about the use of them in your hospital. Thanks, Mike

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

All our ortho surgeons use them. Staff doesn't.

Staff wears the usual mask, and the usual hat, with the ComfortHood disposable cover over top, long sleeved jacket over the shirt, and shoe covers that come up high enough to tuck pants leg cuffs.

The spacesuit makes it difficult to hear what the surgeon says (not to mention they can't hear anything anyone says, either).

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

Sorry, forgot to add "why".

One of the surgeons gets too hot, and sweats profusely. He says he doesn't hav ethat problem in the spacesuit.

The other surgeons are sticklers for sterile technique in TJ cases, and feel that the spacesuit is better in the sterile environment.

[stevierae]

Don't use them anywhere I have worked as a traveler in the San Francisco Bay Area--they are literally gathering dust in old storerooms. I haven't seen them used since probably 1996.

[shodobe]

Kaiser has a contract with a local hospital I work at part-time and they use them on all TJ procedures. The other private Orthos have no use for them and they are gathering dust in my main hospital. We don't even charge the batteries anymore and when someone asks about them, I tell them the system isn't working anymore and they just do the case without it. Mike

[USAFRN 13]

same thing here, we have them but don't use them anymore. we used them at Brooke in San Antonio, but that was a residency program and there were usually a lot of "extra" people scrubbed in. also, that was about 4 years ago. don't know if they still use them or not. they used the UV lights too.

[USAFRN 13]

same thing here, we have them but don't use them anymore. we used them at Brooke in San Antonio, but that was a residency program and there were usually a lot of "extra" people scrubbed in. also, that was about 4 years ago. don't know if they still use them or not. they used the UV lights too.

[subee, MSN, CRNA]

same thing here, we have them but don't use them anymore. we used them at Brooke in San Antonio, but that was a residency program and there were usually a lot of "extra" people scrubbed in. also, that was about 4 years ago. don't know if they still use them or not. they used the UV lights too.

We use them for all total joints - no exceptions. That is one ugly infection that you NEVER want your patient to get. P.S. No one complains about them. We're still waiting for laminar flow rooms for our joints. Are they passe yet?

[shodobe]

No one I know uses laminar flow, in fact the one hospital that I work at part-time recently took theirs out. I am trying to convince ours to do the same. I hate to tell you but we haven't had a bad infection, or even a minor one here in over 20 years. We just close the doors and restrict traffic as much as possible. Nobody uses laminar flow around here and there are quite a number of orthopods. Some will use space suits but that is "only" Kaiser guys and I think it is just because it is policy with their organization. Every ortho guy I have talked to has said laminar flow hasn't proved to be an asset in preventing infections in their opinion, they will come when least expected. All post-op infections in my hospital is caused by poor technique by the nurses on the M/S floors and doesn't originate in the OR.

[Marie_LPN, RN, LPN, RN]

We still use laminator flow.

[MamaTheNurse, BSN, RN]

I worked for an ortho group who all wore them except one who said he sweat too much and they were too hot - funny, he had the highest infection rates in the practice...............

however, it is harder to hear especially if the surgeon you're assisting mumbles - boy, by the end of that job, my hearing was sure keen.......

[TracyB,RN, RN]

some of our orthos use them, some don't. Mostly they complain the have a difficult time hearing. The regular staff doesn't, but I am scrubbing a TJ, I want to have the same protection for myself & my patient. TJ's can be messy, messy, messy, bone chips flying everywhere... ICKKK