Nursing procedures in operations theatre

1. Sterile gloves
2. Sterile suction catheter
3. Antiseptic solution
4. Sterile container
5. Sterile gauze
6. Sterile saline solution
7. Airway passage

Procedure:

1. Before starting, check all suction machine components (cord, plug, and connections) to avoid malfunctions during use.
2. Inspect the suction bottles for cracks or damage; replace if necessary. Ensure the bottles are sealed properly to prevent air leakage, which can reduce suction efficiency.
3. Turn on the suction machine and confirm it is functioning properly.
4. Test the anesthesia suction system and its catheters to ensure they are in working condition.
5. At the start of the procedure, the sterile nurse hands the sterile end of the tubing to the circulating nurse.
6. The circulating nurse connects the tubing to the suction machine using the designated connector.
7. Avoid pulling on the suction tubing; ask the sterile nurse to extend it if needed to prevent disruption of the surgical area.
8. The sterile nurse secures the tubing with a towel clamp to prevent contamination.
9. Cover the tubing with a small sheet to avoid entanglement with surgical instruments.
10. The suction machine should not run continuously but only when needed. The non-sterile nurse should be ready to operate it upon request.
11. Inform the surgical team when the suction container is full.
12. The sterile nurse should not move the suction tubing across the surgical field. If repositioning is needed, use a new sterile tube.
13. Replace any contaminated suction tubing immediately to maintain sterility.
14. The sterile nurse should not touch the towel clamp directly but should replace it if needed.
15. The non-sterile nurse should handle non-sterile items only to prevent contamination.
16. Ensure the sterile nurse’s gloves do not come into contact with non-sterile surfaces.
17. The sterile nurse should place a small towel over the previous clamp area.
18. Replace the suction tubing with a new one as per the required positioning and secure it with a clamp.

End of Procedure:

19. Turn off the suction machine.
20. The non-sterile nurse removes the suction tubing from the machine.
21. Hold both open ends of the tubing upward and place them in a designated waste bag to prevent any remaining fluids from spilling.
22. The anesthesia suction system must be prepped with the necessary tubing and catheters and kept operational.
23. Before discarding the collected fluid, confirm whether the anesthesiologist or surgeon needs to measure the suctioned volume.
24. Clean the suction machine with an antiseptic solution.
25. Empty the suction bottles in a designated disposal area, flush with water, and disinfect the area with chlorine solution.
26. Rinse the suction bottles with cold water first, as heat can coagulate proteins.
27. Wash the suction tubing with cold water, dry thoroughly, and preferably sterilize them before reuse. If sterilization is not possible, disinfect with an appropriate antiseptic solution.
28. Send the cleaned equipment for sterilization or return it to the operating room for future use.
29. Do not store water or disinfectant in the bottles, as unsterile liquid can interfere with blood loss measurement during surgery.