Become an advocate for surgical smoke evacuation by gaining knowledge on the current legislative status for surgical smoke safety, AORN recommendations, and how to implement smoke evacuation in your facility.

This continuing education activity will review surgical treatment options for axial pain caused by DDD and new clinical evidence that assists spine surgeons in selecting the most effective treatment plan for appropriately indicated patients. It will provide an overview of the prevalence of axial back pain and DDD, followed by brief discussions of the relevant lumbar spine and intervertebral disc anatomy and the clinical implications of DDD.

As staffing challenges persist, obtain fresh ideas on how to optimize staffing models in your robotics service line. Through careful examination of the surgical schedule and a strategy of deploying resources based on highest need, you'll see how to maximize team members at their highest scope of practice.

During endoscopic procedures, video resolution and picture quality are critical for the surgeon to adequately examine the surgical area and identify abnormal tissue. This ebook reviews the evolution of endoscopic surgical instruments and the benefits of advanced technology that allow the healthcare team to provide efficient care to patients thereby reducing costs and improving outcomes.

Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy (LC) is the go-to treatment for gallstones and other gallbladder diseases. This learning activity will discuss the incidence and prevalence of symptomatic gallstones, the key surgical techniques established to ensure safe gallbladder removal, and the critical safety aspects and activities for laparoscopic instrument reprocessing and surgical supplies—such as cystic duct clips—that help every LC patient avoid complications and experience an optimal postoperative outcome.

Heat discomfort experienced by OR team members can contribute to diminished workflow efficiency and barriers preventing optimal team collaboration. This continuing education activity will describe the unique challenges associated with heat in the operating room and how it affects the surgical team.

Learn about how an evidence-based and team-based approach for positioning is needed to ensure a safe surgery. Evidence-based guidance from AORN and other safety sources is outlined in this elearning, including specific safe positioning recommendations for all surgical positions, even high-risk positions such as steep Trendelenburg.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) after total joint arthroplasty is a significant complication, and diagnosis and treatment are challenging, which makes prevention the most compelling strategy. This program defines PJI and explains its incidence, pathogenesis, risk factors, clinical consequences, and financial costs. The implications of biofilm formation for the diagnosis and treatment of PJI are discussed. Preoperative, perioperative, intraoperative, and postoperative preventive strategies are described in detail, focusing on the benefits of irrigation with high-osmolarity surfactant solutions.

The constant risks posed by a broad range of microorganisms in fast-paced healthcare environments can be overwhelming. This primer will cover (1) the most prevalent MDRO; (2) UV-C air and surface disinfection technologies and how to evaluate their broad-spectrum efficacy; and (3) hands-on best practices for safe, effective implementation.

Hybrid operating rooms (OR) combine the traditional OR with an image guided interventional suite allowing for a broader range of cases. This learning activity will discuss the design considerations when building a new hybrid OR, the equipment that may be included, types of emerging procedures that may be performed in the OR, and the benefits and challenges associated.

Safe patient handling when positioning a patient is not only important for staff safety as it is for patient safety through the appropriate use of equipment and ergonomics. This course will review best practices for safe patient handling, a culture of safety, and proper ergonomics while positioning a patient in the operating room and how to mitigate occupational injury.

This continuing education reviews common surgical positioning injuries, high-risk surgical positions, and how team collaboration and communication can help prevent patient harm. Strategies, techniques, and evidence-based guidelines for steep deep Trendelenburg, prone, beach chair, and lateral positions are covered.

This educational activity will review the essential concepts and role of perioperative personnel in IUSS as it applies to surgical instruments. Industry leading standards and guidelines will be discussed and key practices for adherence to evidence-based practices will be explained.

Guidelines for the care and maintenance of surgical instruments are provided, along with recommendations for the proper handling of these items. Methods for the decontamination, sterilization, and high-level disinfection of surgical instruments are discussed in detail.

The purpose of this continuing nursing education activity is to provide a review of the role of drug delivery following FESS in optimizing patient outcomes. An overview of the anatomy and physiology of the paranasal sinuses, followed by the clinical implications of CRS, will be presented. The care pathway for CRS patients will be outlined, including the indications for FESS and the clinical considerations related to continued medical therapy.

Electrosurgery may be hazardous, so it is important that clinicians understand how electricity behaves and relates to electrosurgical function and applications can contribute to its safe use. Knowledge of the intraoperative and postoperative medical and nursing considerations and interventions can impact positive patient outcomes.

OR integration (ORI) systems are designed to simplify and streamline the OR by consolidating data, access to video, and controls for all devices through a central console, allowing perioperative personnel to perform many tasks efficiently, without needing to move around the OR, and while ensuring optimum patient safety.

Bullying leaves nasty fingerprints on individuals, healthcare organizations, the nursing profession, and patients. Its mark is damaging and long lasting. Leaders, therefore, have a responsibility to do their part to stop the cycle of bullying and incivility. In this keynote presentation leaders will learn practical tools and strategies they can immediately implement to address workplace violence, bullying, and incivility within the healthcare environment. When leaders are equipped to address disruptive behaviors, employees stay, and patients achieve better outcomes.

Review advanced treatment strategies for the management of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) including maintaining an optimal environment for wound healing and the benefits of compression therapy to reduce pain, facilitate healing and prevent recurrence.

This educational activity will clarify US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements for preoperative skin preparation drug products and discuss recent FDA Safety Communications. The differences between sterile and nonsterile antiseptic solutions will be described as well as issues related to sterilizing antiseptic solutions.