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SPECIAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
The precautions set forth for eye surgery should be scrupulously observed by the
specialist as well as all other members of the operating room team, because errors or
carelessness could cost the patient his sight.
a. Eye Medications. There must be absolutely no error in the administration of
any solutions. In addition, all solutions must be sterile and fresh.
b. Room to Breathe. There must be sufficient ventilation for the patient
beneath the drapes.
c.
Quiet, Calm Room.
(1) To perform eye surgery satisfactorily, the surgeon must have a skilled
and steady hand, and he must be able to concentrate on the operation. To maintain the
needed quiet, calm atmosphere, all team members should keep conversation low and at
a minimum. The movements of all team members should be executed smoothly and
gently. This is especially important for persons working near the operative area. In
addition, a sign should be placed outside the door to warn others that eye surgery is in
progress and to keep traffic with its noise and confusion out of the area.
(2) When the patient has been given local anesthesia, it is necessary that
he lie still without moving his head. Even though he is awake, his unaffected eye may
be left uncovered; he may move if there is a loud noise or hurried activity near him.
(3) Eye instruments should be cleaned after each use during the operation
with a nonfibrous sponge. After the operation, the instruments should be cleaned and
dried thoroughly before storage. Microsurgical instruments should undergo ultrasonic
cleaning with distilled water and appropriate cleansing agent. They should be
individually hand held or immersed in ultrasonic cleaner as long as they are not
touching each other. The instruments should be rinsed with distilled water and
thoroughly dried.
NOTE: A regular preventive maintenance program should be established for
sharpening, realigning, and adjusting the precision eye instruments.
d. Instruments and Their Care. Eye instruments are delicate and are
assembled and stored in specialized instruments cases. They are easily bent, broken,
or dulled. These instruments are also expensive and they must be handled with these
characteristics in mind.
(1) Eye instruments are never to be stacked--before, during, or after a
surgical procedure. The specialist should carefully arrange the instruments on the table
so that no instrument is touching another, and they must not be stacked or thrown down
carelessly at any time.
MD0928
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