SURGICAL MACHINES

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 The history of operating room equipment is expansive,
and varies depending on the piece of equipment. Some of the
earliest operating rooms, also known as operating theaters,
were used in the early 1800s. Surgeries were performed during
daylight hours as there was no electricity. Additionally, candles
were often used for extra lighting.

In the United States, sterile technique was not used until

the 1890s and surgeons only washed their hands after the
surgical procedure.

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 By the 1900s, asepsis, or the prevention of bacteria from
entering a wound or sterile equipment, became practice.
Operating equipment could be made sterile through boiling,
using autoclaves, and chemical antiseptics. Physicians started
to wear white coats, and beds and operating tables were made
with clean linens.

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 Operating rooms are designed for surgeons and surgical
staff to perform surgical procedures that require time,
patience, focus, and safety. Various pieces of equipment are
required for use in the operating room.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Surgical Lights
Used to illuminate
a local area or
cavity of the
patient.

A combination of
several surgical
lights is often referred
to as a “surgical
light system”.
University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Operating Table
Used to keep the
patient in place while
the surgical team
operates.

May move various parts

of the patient’s
body using surgical
table accessories for
easier access to
the surgical site.

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Instrument Tables
Mayo Table Back Table

It overhangs the
operating table
and hold
instruments and
other sterile
items for
immediate use
and within easy The table provides an area where additional
reach of the sterile supplies for the case can be arranged and
scrub nurse. stored until needed.
University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Appendectomy Set-up (Base Hospital)

Back Table

Mayo Table

Skin Preparation Tray

Cesarean Section Set-up (Base Hospital)

Newborn Care Table

Back Table

Mayo Table Crib

Skin Preparation Tray
Sponge Receptacle
Separating used
sponges may
facilitate
visualization for
counting and
minimizes errors
caused by
sponges sticking
together.

Kick Bucket Sponge Counter Caddy

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Anesthesia Machine

Used to generate and

mix a fresh gas flow of
medical gases and
inhalational anesthetic a
gents for the purpose of
inducing and
maintaining anesthesia.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Infusion pump

In an operating room, it is common to use

several infusion pumps at the same time. It is used to
administer different drugs at a precise rate.
University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Autoclave Machine
It uses steam under
pressure to kill harmful
bacteria, viruses, fungi,
and spores on items that
are placed inside a
pressure vessel.

The items are heated to an

appropriate sterilization
temperature for a given amount
of time.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Cautery Machine & Accessories
Used to apply high-frequency, electrical current
to tissue as a means to cut, coagulate,
dessicate or fulgurate tissues. It has the ability
to make precise cuts with limited blood loss.

Bipolar (right) and monopolar (left)

electrosurgical pencils uses electrical
current to coagulate and cut blood vessels and
tissue to provide homeostasis.
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Suction Machine

Used for aspiration of liquid,

parts of tissues, air and
blood from wounds and cavities
during surgical procedure.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Surgical Booms
Used to constrain the electrical cords
from various pieces of equipment in
the OR that can lead to tripping hazards for
staff. By removing the clutter from various
cords, surgical booms increase the amount of
working space in the operating room.

Booms also provide housing for various pieces

of equipment and allow that equipment to
be positioned to best meet the patient and
surgical team needs.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Laparoscopic Tower
Used for
Laparoscopic
surgeries.

Laparoscopy is an
operation performed in
the abdomen or pelvis
using small incisions
with the aid of a
camera. The
laparoscope aids
diagnosis or
therapeutic
interventions with a
few small cuts in the
abdomen.
University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Negatoscope

Aids in viewing imaging results from diagnostic procedures such as

xray, CT scan, MRI, and etc.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Microscope

Provides clear stereoscopic view of

the operative field.

It consists of a series of lenses, aligned to

give a stereoscopic image, and a built-in
illumination system.
University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Ultrasound Machine

Used to visualize the bone and certain

organs, such as lung, heart and vascular
structures.
University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
C-arm

It is an imaging scanner intensifier. The name derives from the C-shaped arm used to
connect the x-ray source and x-ray detector to one another. C-arms have radiographic
capabilities, though they are used primarily for fluoroscopic intraoperative imaging
during surgical, orthopedic and emergency care procedures. University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Thermoregulation
These devices are used to maintain normal body temperature for patients
before, during and after surgery.

Drop Light Bair Hugger

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112
Warming Cabinet

Used to warm blankets and

fluids.

Warming patients often reduces intra-

operative bleeding, promotes better
wound healing, and even decreases the
chance of a cardiac event related to
core temperature drop.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Defibrillator

Used to restore a normal heartbeat by sending an electric pulse

or shock to the heart. It is used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, a
heartbeat that is uneven or that is too slow or too fast.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

Emergency Cart
Portable cart containing
emergency resuscitation
equipment for patients
who are “coding”.

Crash carts are

strategically located in
the operating room for
immediate accessibility if
a patient experiences
cardiorespiratory failure.

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112

References
Avante Health Solutions (July 11, 2018). An introduction to operating room design. Retrieved from
https://avantehs.com/learn/buying-guides/intro-operating-room-design

Goldman, M. (2020). Pocket guide to the operating room (4th ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

Nemitz, R. (2019). Surgical instrumentation: an interactive approach (3rd ed.). Missouri: Elsevier.

Philipps, N. (2017). Berry and Kohn’s operating room technique (15th ed.). Singapore: Elsevier.

Steris Healthcare (2017). Operating room equipment: a complete guide. Retrieved from
https://www.steris.com/healthcare/knowledge-center/surgical-equipment/operating-room-equipment-a-complete-
guide

World Health Organization (2012). Hospital medical equipment – general information: lights, surgical. Retrieved from
https://www.who.int/medical_devices/innovation/hospt_equip_17.pdf?ua=1

University of St. La Salle | NCM 112