Blue wrap remains the only option for sterilizing some commonly used
surgical items, including heavy orthopedic instruments, with some manu-
facturers finding it difficult to verify that they've been able to achieve ster-
ilization in every nook and cranny of a given instrument. But more and
more manufacturers are finding ways to prove their instruments can be
sterilized in containers. The reasons are many, says Ms. Horvath.
1. eliminate "torn-wrapper" syndrome.
Anyone who's spent significant time in the OR knows that holes in
wraps happen regularly. Often there's a patient on the table already
under anesthesia, and then you discover there's a hole in the blue
wrap. What do you do? Wait up to 3 hours to turn it over again, or do
you flash — use an immediate-use steam sterilization cycle to re-ster-
ilize the tray? It's a no-win situation you'd rather not face. Eliminating
"torn-wrapper syndrome" reduces delays in surgery and can help elim-
inate the need to flash.
2. rigid containers cost less. The price tag for a medium
to large container may look daunting — typically $300 to $500 — but
time is on the container's side. The container is more cost-effective, but
you're paying it all up front, instead of over time. True, it may cost only
a couple of dollars to wrap a tray, but those numbers add up quickly,
especially when you consider that a container may last 10 years or
more. Say you spend $3 every time you wrap a given tray, and you wrap
that tray once a day. That's $15 a week. Project that over 10 years, and
you'll have spent upwards of $7,000 (plus the cost of disposal).
3. rigid containers are less time-consuming. No
matter how efficient your processing technicians are, wrapping and
taping instruments adds additional time to the process.
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February 2015 | O U T PAT I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T
