hh. Sterilizer. Apparatus using saturated steam under pressure, ethylene
oxide, or dry heat as the sterilizing agent. These include gravity and mechanical types.
ii. Sterilization. The process by which all pathogenic and nonpathogenic
microorganisms, including spores, are killed.
jj. Surgical Procedure. A set of steps by which a desired result is
accomplished by surgery, which is the treatment of diseases and injuries by manual or
operative methods.
kk. Surgical Team or Operating Room Team. Surgeon, one or more
assistant surgeons, a scrub nurse or technician, an anesthetist, and a circulating nurse
or technician makes up the surgical team.
ll. Surgical Needles. Surgical needles are straight or curved needles used to
safely carry suture material through tissue with the least amount of effort. Needles must
also be sterile.
mm. Surgically Clean. Mechanically or physically cleaned, but unsterile. Items
are rendered surgically clean by the use of chemical, physical, or mechanical means
that reduce the number of microorganisms on them.
nn. Suture (verb). Suturing is the act of sewing by bringing tissues together
and holding them until healing has taken place.
oo. Suture (noun). A suture is any strand of material used to sew tissue
together. Suturing material must be sterile. Ligature is a strand of suture material used
to "tie off" or seal blood vessels to prevent bleeding.
pp. Suture Card or Surgeon's Preference Card. This card lists the surgeon's
usual suture and needle routine by tissue layer and preference for instrument
equipment and position of patient.
qq. Terminal Sterilization and Disinfection. The procedures carried out for
the destruction of pathogens on instruments and supplies before they are handled for
complete cleaning and checked for proper functioning. Terminal sterilization is often
done by the using unit to protect personnel handling the items.
1-3.
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF THE SUBCOURSE
a. Procedures Performed for an Operation. Procedures to be done before,
during, and after surgery by both the circulator and the scrub are set forth to acquaint
the operating room specialist with the precise areas of responsibility of these two
assignments. Emphasis is placed upon the fact that the duties of the circulator and the
scrub do not overlap once the sterile preparation for surgery has been started. Neither
the circulator nor the scrub may intrude upon the other's area at any time, although it is
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