Going under the knife...

[not2sharp]

Scapels .. the classic surgeons tool, They're prep and sterilized when the surgeon walk into the operating room; but, who gets to sharpen them, and how do you sharpen one to ensure accurate performance?

 

[Normark]

Hi Not2..

Those were the olden days...
All the scalpels used today are throw away.The only thing that get chucked into the autoclave are the handles. The used blades are incinerated...

ttyle Eric - On/Scene

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Eric E. Noeldechen
On/Scene Tactical
http://www.mnsi.net/~nbtnoel

 

[Gollnick]

Most of the scapels used today are entirely disposable (plastic handle). They're autoclaved or irradiated in their sealed package at the factory and unwrapped only minutes before use in the operating room and by a nurse wearing gloves. So, following the sterilization at the factory, the only human flesh that touches them is yours.

Keep in mind that a scapel is extremely sharp out of the box, but it doesn't keep it's edge very well. For a surgical cut to heal well and heal quickly, it must be perfectly clean. So, surgeons make only a few cuts with each scapel and then throw it away. They're also concerned about spreading infections from one part of the body (where the germs may not be a problem) to another, so scapels are frequently changed.

I've often thought that, being a bit of a knife collector, if I ever where to have surgery, I would have to talk the doctor into saving one of the scapels for my collection. Somehow, a knife that actually cut into me in surgery is one that I'd just have to have.



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Chuck
Balisongs -- because it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing!
http://www.4cs.net/~gollnick

 

[not2sharp]

Thanks for the info.

Just couldn't see a surgeon stopping in mid operation and saying something like: "will somebody please put an edge on this (add your favorite colorful language here) thing."

I wonder if the old fashion scapels are still in common use in the third world - it still seems that the old style scaples would have been a major problem to maintain.

 

[Gollnick]

I asked a friend of mine today who is a anasesiologiest (however you spell that), "Gas Passer" in medical-speak, and he said that some surgeons still prefer the heavier feel of a solid metal handle. For them, the handles are autoclaved and/or gas sterilized and then the blades, which come from the factory in sterile packages, are mounted on the handles by an assistant who is, of course, wearing gloves. During surgury, they do NOT change a blade. They change the whole assembly. After each blade is used, it is dropped into a bucket of antiseptic. After the surgury, the used scapels are dumped out of that bucket, the blades are removed and discared, and the handles sterilized for next time. However, the labor to sterilize handles, mount blades, remove the blades, clean the handles up, etc., is very expensive, and given the fears of blood-borne pathogens, nobody wants to deal with soild scapels other then to just send them off for incineration with all of the other soiled wastes, so hospitals are encouraging doctors to use disposable scapels.

Chuck

 

[Cougar Allen]

In former times, before the germ theory of disease, surgical instruments were often ornately engraved (crevices for germs to hide in -- ackkkkk!) Some people collect them; I read a book once ... sorry, don't remember the title ... something like "Collecting Old Scientific and Surgical Instruments" ... it had some beautiful pictures.

There was a period when they sterilized and sharpened and reused scalpels, too; those scalpels were plain steel and not decorated. When they went to disposables sharpness improved as well as sterility; most surgeons didn't know how to sharpen scalpels as well as the factories did it.

Disposable scalpels are useful for crafts ... I used to have some but I'm having trouble finding them now ... I tried all the local art supply stores ... where do the surgeons get them???

-Cougar Allen :{)

 

[Smooth Bone]

n2s,

Typically, the scalpel is only used to slice the upper layer of skin. The surgeon then switches to an electrocautery (EC) unit.

Your body is used to complete an electrical circuit between a grounding pad (a gel coated metallic pad about the size of your hand that is stuck to your naked body somewhere where it won't be in the way, like a thigh or buttock) and a plastic pen looking device with a metal tip that is held by the surgeon. Both the pen and the gel pad are plugged into the EC unit, the instrument that provides the correct amount of electricity. When the surgeon touces the pen to tissue, an electrical current is completed with current running from the EC unit through the pen, through your body to the gel pad, and back to the EC unit (or maybe it's the opposite direction, but you get the idea).

The result is that your precious tissue can be cut and/or cauterized. This greatly reduces the amount of time a surgeon would have to take to tie off vessels to stop bleeding because the vessels are "burned" shut.

This leaves a distinct odor in the OR!

A little something to think about next time you're being pre-op'ed.

Gollnick,

You did pretty good phonetically! It's "anesthesiologist".

I bet Dr. Walt could give us some good info if he's around.



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Frank Norman
Valdosta, GA