The other main advantage of this method of fluid waste capture is
the large volume a mobile unit can handle. During procedures that
produce large volumes of fluid, such as arthroscopies, this method is
far superior to solidifying, which requires your staff to fill and change
out multiple canisters, solidify the waste and haul the heavy canisters
to your red bag waste receptacle.
A mobile unit's chambers can house several liters of fluid waste —
enough to capture the runoff during knee or shoulder arthroscopies —
without having to empty the unit. In fact, the unit is often able to hold
the fluid waste generated during multiple cases. That improves case
and room turnover efficiencies by eliminating the need to manage mul-
tiple disposable canisters.
When we added our first mobile unit, staff were reluctant to use it.
They viewed it as another piece of equipment that had to be brought
into the OR. It's a big machine and it takes up space. It also generated a
background noise we weren't used to. But over time the carts have
gained acceptance. We've had to purchase more of them because we
didn't have enough to keep up with case volume. Mobile fluid capture
units now feature smoke evacuators, which is an added convenience.
• Stationary disposal. With these systems, staff attach full contain-
ers to drainage units, which automatically pump the waste directly
into the sewer with no pouring needed.
• Direct to drain. This option bypasses carts and canisters altogeth-
er by sending waste directly to a wall-outlet in the OR. Obviously, the
M A Y 2 0 1 8 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 6 1
essary. However, if it's unknown if the patient has an infectious
disease, ask the patient (or family if the patient is still under
anesthesia) for consent to conduct a blood test in order to find
out.
— Mary Wilson, BSN, RN, CNOR
