Surgical instruments are specially designed tools that assist health care professionals carry out specific actions during an operation. Most instruments crafted from the early 19th century on are made from durable stainless steel. Some are designed for general use, and others for specific procedures. There are many surgical instruments available for almost any specialization in medicine. There are precision instruments used in microsurgery, ophthalmology and otology. Most surgical instruments can be classified into these 4 basic types:
Topics: Sklar, Sterile Disposables, Research, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments, Surgical Instruments
Acute ear infections affect one in ten people worldwide, and children aged five and under account for half of the cases. Five percent of those with the acute stage eventually develop chronic otitis media (COM) with a significant portion of patients under age five.1 This condition is a persistent infection which does not heal properly and oftentimes does not respond to medical treatment. In these cases, surgical intervention may be required to get rid of the infection.
Topics: Sklar, Research, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments, Surgical Instruments, ENT
Healthcare Workers More Prone to Develop Latex Allergies
A recent FDA ban on powdered medical gloves1 has brought attention back to airway inflammation and allergic reactions. It serves as a reminder to be vigilant about related latex allergy.
Topics: Sklar, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments
The Vaginal Speculum: from its unearthed secrets to our modern times
Homeopathic remedies, excavated tools, sexual taboos, questionable medical ethics of testing on slaves, and handful of influential physicians have paved the way for the modern instrument of today.
Topics: Sklar, Research, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments, OB/GYN
Free CE Course Designed for Physicians, Nurses, Sterile Processing Technicians & Central Supply Specialists
Sklar believes that education is the most important tool anyone can have, and educating healthcare professionals has always been a top priority for us. Many hours and collective effort have gone in the development of our free CE course, and it makes us proud to have you take advantage of it.
Topics: Sklar, Sterile Disposables, Research, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments
Surgical Knife or Scalpel? Where did it come from?
The knife was the first tool developed by humans, and it is still the most widely used tool today. Knives are used by seamstresses, gardeners, hair dressers, cooks, artists, and surgeons. It is an essential tool for many professions that range from mechanical to technological, and it is also handy at the dining table. So, who were the first ones to use it in medicine?
Topics: Sklar, Scalpel, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments
An Interview with Neurosurgeon Dr. Tavanaiepour; His Views on the Medical Industry
Dr. Daryoush Tavanaiepour Interim Chair, Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Director, Skull Based Surgery, Assistant Professor of Neurosurgery, University of Florida
Dr. Tavanaiepour works at UF Health College of Medicine in Downtown, Jacksonville, and he was so kind as to set aside some time out of his busy schedule, to receive us for a casual interview.
Topics: Sterile Disposables, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments, Neurosurgery
Insider Study: Single-Use Instrument Facts Everyone Should Know
Patients should be aware of a medical practice that has become dangerously common during the last few years. Disposable medical instruments are being reused by hospitals even though manufacturers insist that these devices should be used once and then thrown away. So, why do some hospitals reprocess single-use instruments? Their answer is simple. They claim it saves them money. Why use a disposable pair of scissors to cut the umbilical cord on only one newborn child, when it’s better to reprocess them and use them on two newborns? The full price they paid for a single pair of scissors gets cut by 50% when utilizing this practice.
Topics: Sklar, Sterile Disposables, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments
Surgical Site Infections continue to haunt the healthcare industry
Surgical site infections (SSIs) have become a common type of undesired adverse effect for hospitalized patients. “It is estimated that 1 in 24 patients who undergo inpatient surgery in the US had a postoperative SSIs”.1 SSIs comprise more than one-third of all hospital-acquired infections. These infections cause longer hospitalizations for patients, resulting in longer recovery time. Some patients may have to stay in the hospital for up to 10 days after surgery, depending on the severity of the infection. The increase in length of hospital stay or rate of re-hospitalization impacts total costs dramatically. Additionally, the risk of postoperative death is, by majority, directly related to surgical site infections. “The estimated cost of SSI’s to hospitals is $7.4 billion, with 13,088 deaths per year”.2
Topics: SSI, Healthcare, Single-use Instruments