The most vital element for an efficient and smooth functioning of an operation theatre is systematic management along with trained staff and  world class equipment. Proper utilisation of technology in an operation theatre not only requires good resources and also trained personnel. This needs assessment and careful planning, along with accurate scheduling to give the best patient care experience. With recent advances in technology and equipment, the operation theatre layout should be designed in such a way to allow free and smooth flow of patients through the systems. With changes in surgical techniques and operations, theatres need to be designed in such a way that they have more space and multipurpose equipment. Technology plays a major role in the changing shape of operation theatres which are now becoming easily adopted by all major hospitals and medical doctors.

Latest trends in technology in the operating theatre

The most common difficulty operation theatres face is overcrowding and the turnaround between cases is long. New technology and state of art equipment make it possible for the hospital to provide not only patients, but also consultant surgeons the very best in health care experience. Latest technological advancements in operating theatres include imaging techniques, touch screen ability in monitors used for endoscopies and imaging, instant image access, high definition images and video capture for replay of entire surgical procedure. Integrating these equipment into your operation theatre makes the entire process far simpler. In fact, surgeries which required anaesthesia once upon a time, are now performed image-guided with latest vascular technologies. The shift from traditional surgeries to minimally invasive surgeries has also caught on.

Conventional surgical resections have been replaced by ablations and image guided therapeutics which not only improve patient care, recovery time and post-surgical complications, but also reduce healthcare costs. With a large number of surgeries being carried out laparoscopically, these developments seem like a blessing. Integrating key hole surgeries with HD monitors and HD 1080p cameras enables the surgeons to visualise more accurately and carry out the procedures more smoothly, reducing errors. This has improved surgery outcomes and patient safety. Installing upgraded equipment enables the surgeon to perform key hole surgeries where images can be captured in HD and can be projected on larger monitors to enable better visibility for the surgeon. This enhances the surgeon’s precision and enables them to take a better look for an accurate and rapid diagnosis on table. Complex procedures are also conducted with ease now.

To make the most of technology it is always wise to install the latest equipment which enables to carry out both forms of surgery, whether open or laparoscopic. This ranges from orthopaedic to gynaecological and cosmetic surgeries as well. Operation theatre staff can also benefit from better technology as it becomes easier for them to clean and function well.

Thus, whatever technology you use in the OT, it should ensure safety guidelines and efficiency. These innovations in technology should not only improve patient recoveries, but also ensure a smooth and flexible OT environment functioning and not become cumbersome for the medical personnel.

Contributed by Dr. Rachita Narsaria, MD

REFERENCES

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