Collecting, storing, and disposing of fluid wastes efficiently is critical for the safety of your OR staff. Managing this task can be extremely complicated, however. Often, fluids collect around the surgical site faster than they can be suctioned away. Transporting and disposing of fluids can expose staff to splashing and leaks. Because fluid wastes may contain Hepatitis C, HIV, and other bloodborne pathogens, managing these wastes while minimizing exposure to them is key.

In this article, we'll review some new systems that may make fluid management easier and safer.

Suction Systems
A survey recently conducted by the Steris Corporation determined that fifty percent of the nurses polled had been exposed to patient fluids while cleaning the OR. With that in mind, the company developed the Steris SafeCycle 40 Waste Management System for collecting, transporting, and disposing of fluid waste. The system can collect fluid from up to four sources simultaneously; it uses existing wall suction and fluid collection lines. The unit has fluid level indicators to provide an accurate measurement of the collected fluid volumes (it can hold up to 40 liters), and it has an automatic shut-off valve to prevent the tanks from overflowing. After the procedure, you simply wheel the SafeCycle 40 to a disposal area, where it will automatically dispose of the collected fluids and initiate a self-cleaning cycle, which lasts about 12 minutes.

According to Steris, the SafeCycle eliminates exposure risks commonly associated with traditional fluid waste handling practices because it is completely self-contained. The unit is 26.6 inches by 31.5 inches, approximately the same size as a four suction canister tree. It lists for $18,000, and the cleaner for the self-cleaning cycle costs $3.95. Because the unit can hold fluid from two surgeries before you need to empty it, your per case cost for the cleaner is only $1.98.

For more information about the Steris SafeCycle 40 call (800) 548-4873 or visit www.steris.com.

The Neptune, a fluid waste management system and smoke evacuator from Stryker Instruments, is also a self-contained unit that provides independent and consistent suction and protects your staff from ever coming into contact with fluid waste. The system consists of the Neptune Rover and the Neptune Docking Station and disposable manifolds, which connect the suction tubing to the storage canister. The Rover is stationed in the OR and provides either one or four suction outlets. Unlike most suction devices, the Rover operates independently from any wall suction source; all you have to do is plug it in. The unit holds 20 liters, and at 18 inches wide by 60 inches high (with the IV pull down) by 25 inches deep, its compact design makes it easy to store in a smaller OR. The Rover also has the added convenience of integrated smoke evacuator. The smoke evacuator runs quietly at 60 to 65 decibels, and it does not consume any additional space in your OR.

The Rover also has wheels to easily transport it from the OR to the Docking Station, which is usually stored in the decontamination area. The Docking Station connects to an incoming water source and an outgoing sewer drain. The Rover magnetically connects to the Docking Station, and the fluids are flushed during a three-minute cleaning cycle without ever exposing your staff to its contents.