This starts with the
floor plan. With the
average OR suite
measuring around 600
square feet and a
robot and operating
physician taking up at
least one-third of that
area, it's easy to see
why space is such an
issue during robotic
procedures.
To accommodate an
MIS-to-open conver-
sion, keep the path-
way around the surgi-
cal field free of
obstructions to allow
for instant emergency access for staff and their equipment. This can
be a real challenge when you factor in all the cords and wires in a typ-
ical OR. Key: You'll want to group everything — machines, booms and
cords — as closely together and out of the way as possible, while still
providing easy access for your team.
Of course, emergent situations mean extra equipment. So your
contingency plan should factor all of these variables into the equa-
tion. Should the surgery require an emergency conversion to an
open approach, you'll need all supplies, specialty instrument trays
and equipment at your team's fingertips. Another tip: Open and
count your basic open-approach instrument trays before the start of
all robotic surgeries to prevent delays in the event of a conversion.
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 1 1 7
• FAIL SAFE Little things, like making sure there's easy access to the key in the
event the robot arm unexpectedly locks up, are invaluable precautions that can't be
overlooked.
UCLA
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