Perceptions of communication in the operating room: a pilot survey study.

BACKGROUND: An operating room (OR) environment is challenging and complicated. At any given time, several vital tasks are being performed by skilled individuals, including physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff. There is a potential for multifactorial mistakes; many arise because of communication issues. METHODS: To evaluate the current state of perceptions of interdisciplinary communication in an OR setting, a survey was developed and administered to four academic residency training departments of anesthesiology in a single U.S. state. RESULTS: The results of this survey show that perceived poor communication within the OR leads to a lack of emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to patient care in the OR. CONCLUSIONS: Survey data can be used internally to identify shortcomings in communication at a facility, to stress the importance of communication, and to serve as a powerful education tool to potentially improve patient care. Through this type of survey, which emphasizes communication in the OR, stakeholders can work more effectively to improve patient care and decrease adverse outcomes in the hospital environment.

Novel improvements in perioperative sterility.

Operative sterility is a critical factor with regard to infection in the postoperative period. In recent years, techniques and devices have been developed to reduce the potential for exposure to pathogens. This brief review details the SteriCup, a unique product that has the potential to reduce the risk of healthcare-acquired infections. The SteriCup provides a designated sterile area to store suction catheters and removed endotracheal tubes and allows for their simple and safe disposal. Devices such as the SteriCup have the potential to improve operating room systems and minimize potential for operative infection.