dippy7

thanks for the diagram Marie, that's really helpful!! We do have a similar set up for arthroplastys which is reassuring!! It is always a bit of a nightmare keeping all the sterile instruments within the laminar flow (ventilation tent) though!!! I think the surgeon in question in this instance felt that the scrub nurse should be behind the trolley with the instruments in front of her rather than with them to one side. He was referring particularly to minor cases where only one trolley is used for the operation. Where would you put that one trolley??!!

the arguement that has been going on in our theatres is that the scrub nurse should never have her back or her side to sterile instruments - but rather they should be in front of her!! This has led to conflict because when involved in an arthroplasty there may be so many instrument trays that the scrub nurse can't possibly reach across them all to pass the required instruments to the surgeon. We use a Mayo stand (a small table which can be pushed over the patients legs) as a sterile work surface from which to hand the basic instruments from while the bulk of the instruments will be on "trolleys" (1.5metre x 80cm metal tables on wheels) to the sides and behind the scrub nurse. When operating on a limb, again the scrub nurse stands with her side to the instruments and uses the end of her trolley as a working area. The argument from one surgeon is that the scrub nurse should be stood with the instrument trolley between herself and the surgeon/patient. We are concerned that this has the scrub nurse leaning over the sterile instruments to hand things to the surgeon. How does this sound to you? (Hope I have explained the scenario well enough!!!)

Oops sorry - forgot this is an international site!! I wrote "trolley" meaning that which the scrub nurse puts her instrument trays on/works from - is this what you call a "cart"?

There has been a debate in the OR where I work with regards to the positioning of the scrub nurse in relation to sterile trolleys intraoperatively. What do you do in your hospital? Where do you stand in relation to the trolleys and what are the official recommendations??!!