THE OPERATING ROOM

Operating Room is an integral part of nursing services in nursing

hospital. It is considered as an important nursing service area. When
a patient is scheduled for surgery, then it will be operated by a
specially trained personnel in a very specialized area of ​the hospital
and this specialized area is called Operating Room / Operating
Theater . The operating room is a dynamic and complex area, where
the safety of patients undergoing surgery requires a lot of priority.
The environment of the operating room is conducive to its needs, but
it is quite different from the rest of the hospital, that all the activities
of the operating room are centered around the best care of the patient.
DEFINITION
"Operation Theater" is a specialized facility of the
hospital where lifesaving or life improving procedures
are carried out on human body by invasive methods
under strict aseptic conditions in a controlled
environment by specially trained personnel to promote
healing and cure with maximum safety, comfort and
economy.
Classification of OT
•Based on size
• Major OT - The major OT is a spacious and air-conditioned hall
that has four operating tables. They are engaged with major
surgeries conducted under the use of general anaesthesia. The
operation theatre is well equipped with all the necessary
instruments & machinery. A central sterile supply department with
two big horizontal sterilization machines are located close to the
Operation Theatre where all instruments and linen are sterilized and
kept ready to use Major OT.
• Minor OT
• It deals with the minor surgeries operate under local anaesthesia. It
Equipped with a microscope, an anaesthetic machine and all the
other routine equipment is used to operate minor eye cases, foreign
body removal etc. Removal of suture can also be done in minor
OT. Diagnostic procedures such as Biopsy can also take place.
•Based on Specialty
• General OT
• Cardiac OT
• Neurology OT
• Orthopedic OT
• Ophthalmic OT
• ENT OT
•Based on Sterility
• Ultra sterile OT – Ultra sterile operation theater is a
place where major and life-saving surgeries done
with an absolute sterile environment are performed
like Cardio-thoracic-vascular OT , Transplant OT
• Sterile OT - Sterile operation theater is a place where
surgeries with no risk of infection are performed.
• Septic OT - Septic operation theater is a place where
surgeries with risk of infection, like evisceration,
abscess drainage, dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR),
dacryocystectomy (DCT) etc are performed.
•Based on construction
• Modular OT - Modular OT is a finished joint less with
sterile coating that provide a high quality finish in prevention
of contamination build up, long durability, robust and
flexibility design for future expansion, ease of maintenance
etc.
• Non-Modular OT – a general operation theater

•Based on timing of surgery

• Routine
• Emergency
 PLANNING AND ORGANIZATION OF OT
GENERAL PRINCIPLES
• Operation theatre should be planned in such as manner that facilitates the passing or
removal of contaminated material without passing in sterile or clean area
• OT Should be planned far form traffic area.
• OT Should be away form central corridors.
• Planned in such a way that operative staff should not pass or move through
unprotected or contaminated area.
• The direction of airflow within OT should be from clean to less clean areas.
• Proper ventilation should ensure to provide a calm , pleasant and comfortable
environment for surgeons , staff and patients
 PHYSICAL SETUP IN OT
A.Location

B.Designing
C.Zone distribution of operating area
1.Outer zone
2.Middle zone
3.Inner zone

D.Size of OT
E.Pattern
ORGANIZATION OF OT
1. Doors
2. Ventilation
3. Walls
4. Ceiling
5. Lighting
6. Furniture
7. Water

GENERAL INSTRUMENDTS OF OT
There are many types of equipments available in OT :
1. Mayo stand
2. Ring stand
3. Instrument trolly
4. Instrument table
5. Operating table
6. IV stand
7. Heart lung machine
8. Operating microscope
9. Suction bottles
10.Deep freezer
 OPERATING TABLE
Operating table is a special table which facilitates the various
positioning for various operations. The patient lies on the
operating table during the surgery .