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O R
T A B L E S
HANA table's hip and knee arthroplasty capabilities to your OR, without
your having to purchase a specialty table, and without having to find the
space to store it and the manpower to routinely move it in and out of
your rooms.
It's a similar situation with spinal surgery's specific positioning and
access needs. There are tables specially designed for spine surgery.
But what if you're not running a spine or neurosurgery center even as
you ambitiously court spine cases to your mix? You may be better
served by attachments that can convert conventional tables into
spinal analogues. Most are made from radiolucent materials, enabling
clear visualization for the C-arm the cases will require.
These types of specialty attachments usually involve assembly and
disassembly to convert your tables. Many models of OR tables are
made up of 3 heavy segments: the head, the middle and the bottom.
Taking down the bottom piece in order to add leg attachments for
gynecology or urology cases can be some serious labor.
Here's some good news, though. Some attachment manufacturers
use aircraft-grade aluminum instead of stainless steel for their components. This creates an equally strong, but lighter weight, attachment.
Keep an eye out for this advance if you're in the market for surgical
table attachments. Some of these aluminum attachments can also be
hung on the wall, saving floor and storage room space and making
them conveniently retrievable.
It's always a good idea to evaluate the accessories you're considering
with the help of staff and physicians who'll actually be using them.
Whenever you can, take advantage of the opportunity to trial before
making a purchase.
Don't put cost before safety, though. It's true that tables and their
accessories are large budget items. And the carts that some vendors
offer to hold and transport table attachments often get value-engi1 2 8
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | N O V E M B E R 2013
