THERE'S A BETTER WAY Facilities that traffic in fluid-intensive cases can benefit from automated fluid management solutions.

A surgical facility that sees even a moderate volume of shoulder arthroscopies, anterior cruciate ligament repairs and other joint-related procedures likely goes through a lot of irrigation fluid. It's also a sure bet that the handling and disposal of the resulting fluid runoff is a routine part of room turnover. The method you choose for fluid waste management is often driven by your budget, but keep in mind that your staff's safety and efficiency is directly affected by this choice.

• Safety. It doesn't take too much thinking to figure out why the traditional method of collecting fluid waste by putting down towels on the OR floor isn't the safest option. There's still the risk of slips and falls, first of all, then the exposure hazard for whoever's charged with picking them up. In addition, transporting a bag heavy with sodden linens is an ergonomic injury waiting to happen. If employee safety is a priority (and it should be the top one), the benefits of a fluid collection and disposal system that minimizes contact should be clear.
• Efficiency. A fluid management system should keep your surgical employees safe, but can it also improve turnover time? One key to finding a solution that suits your OR is whether it is convenient to where it is needed. Can a canister drainage system be installed close to where it is filled? Is a suction system portable, to reach runoff, puddles and spills where they happen? Several manufacturers offer absorbent or suction floor mats on which surgical personnel can stand, but a stationary mat defeats the possibility of moving the solution to a problem.

Usage factors also play a part. In a brochure or at a conference's exhibit hall, a fluid waste management system may look streamlined and efficient, but you'll want to make sure you know how much room it takes up in your (possibly technology cramped) ORs, what is required to power it, and what it sounds like when it's in operation. If the noise of a suction system drowns out a surgeon's requests and directions, it might not be efficiently used throughout a procedure.

Since a facility's equipment budget remains a major factor in purchasing decisions, a cost analysis is another fairly simple way to assess which system will work for your OR. For a specified number of fluid-intensive cases, compare how much towels and linen service; canisters, solidifying agent and red bag waste; or whatever your collection and disposal methods require, against methods that make the process more automatic. Turn the page for a roundup of the leading solutions available on the market.

Bemis Health Care
Quick-Drain Waste Management System
bemishealthcare.com
(800) 558-7651
Pricing: $8,300 to $10,800
FYI: Bemis's Quick-Drain Waste Management System provides safe, cost-effective disposal of potentially infectious fluid runoff. Fluid that is contained in Bemis suction canisters or liners is transported to the area where Quick-Drain is installed. The system drains the containers, flushing the fluid into the sanitary sewer system with water. A built-in rinsing feature washes out canisters for disposal in white-bag trash (if allowed by hospital and municipal policies). Quick-Drain connects to existing plumbing and its operation requires no electricity. A large-volume canister (12,000cc or above) version is also available.

Cardinal Health
SAF-T Pump
cardinalhealth.com
(800) 964-5227 Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: The SAF-T Pump from Cardinal Health quickly and safely empties canisters of fluid waste directly into the sanitary sewer with no pouring required. It is easy to use: Just insert a dip tube into a suction canister, connect the pump and turn it on. Powered entirely by tap water, with no moving parts to wear out, it can drain a liter of liquid in 4 seconds. The system accommodates all Guardian, CRD and Flex Advantage suction canister sizes to eliminate the need for and expense of disposing of full canisters.

DeRoyal
Aqua-Box Waste Fluid Evacuation System
deroyal.com
(800) 251-9864
Pricing: $3,000 to $8,000 per unit, depending on size and rinse option
FYI: Quick, efficient and safe, DeRoyal's Aqua-Box can evacuate a standard suction canister in about 12 seconds. It can optionally add a disinfectant before safely discarding waste fluid down existing facility sewer lines. By eliminating manual pouring and splashing, it provides a safer alternative for handling potentially infectious fluids. The compact, stand-alone unit, which can drain any suction canister, liner, collection bag, kick bucket or other fluid container, can be installed in just about any wall-mounted location, freeing up valuable floor space.

MD Technologies
Environ-mate DM6000 Series Suction-Drain Systems
mdtechnologiesinc.com
(800) 201-3060
Pricing: $3,500 to $8,000
FYI: MD Technologies' Environ-mate DM6000 Series Suction-Drain Systems silently dispose of fluid waste directly to the sanitary sewer, isolating staff from exposure. By eliminating the cost of disposable supplies and waste disposal, the systems' savings typically pay for themselves in the first year. The compact, wall-mounted systems occupy no floor space and do not require transporting suctioned fluid to disposal sites. The DM6000 model can be equipped with a footswitch; the DM6000-2 (shown) offers 2 fully independent suction inputs; and the DM6000-2A has an unlimited fluid capacity and optional totalizer for recording fluid volumes.

Skyline Medical
Streamway System
skylinemedical.com
(855) 785-8855
Pricing: $21,900
FYI: The wall-mounted Streamway System from Skyline Medical eliminates the need for suction canisters and transport carts by delivering safe, efficient, easy-to-use direct-to-drain fluid waste disposal. Its unlimited capacity provides continuous collection, and by virtually eliminating exposure to waste fluids, it improves staff safety. An illuminated touchscreen panel enables control over suction levels and displays volume measurements. The single-patient procedure filter and tissue trap prevent cross-contamination and allow tissue retrieval. An automated cleaning cycle makes turnover simple.

Southern MedWaste
AcceleWaste Fluid Disposal System
southernmedwaste.com
(903) 242-9779
Pricing: $6,900 to $9,200
FYI: The AcceleWaste Fluid Disposal System from Southern MedWaste reduces or eliminates employees' handling of and exposure to potentially infectious fluid waste; the risk of spills that comes with pouring and splashing canisters' contents; employers' liability for occupational safety hazards; and the costs of solidifying agents and red-bag disposal of canisters. The wall-mounted, self-contained unit evacuates canisters, including bone chips and blood clots, while disinfecting fluids for disposal and offering an optional canister rinsing function. Installation requires a 120-volt outlet, inlet water line and sewer discharge line, allowing the unit to place no additional burden on a facility's vacuum suction system.

Stryker
Neptune 2 Waste Management System
stryker.com
(800) 253-3210
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Focused on surgical safety, Stryker's Neptune 2 delivers dependable performance and peace of mind. With enhanced safety and user-friendly features inspired by clinical customers and professional organizations, the Neptune 2 elevates surgical suction with its constantly closed system, hands-free operation and no open canister access points to prevent staff exposure to waste fluid. Neptune's SealShut Technology securely locks away biohazards during cases, manifold changes, docking and transport, to permit patient-to-patient use, and the unit's high-volume capacity helps to optimize turnover time and workflow.

Zimmer Surgical
Ultraflex Fluid Cart
orfluidwaste.zimmer.com
(800) 613-6131
Pricing: not disclosed
FYI: Put those canisters away for good. Zimmer Surgical's Ultraflex Fluid Carts are a safe, convenient and environmentally considerate fluid waste management solution. Nurse-designed and configured for busy ORs that demand multi-patient fluid collection and high vacuum flow, the carts offer 33- or 52-liter fluid capacity, an easy-to-read touchscreen control panel, single-use manifolds, illuminated fluid reservoirs and a regulated vacuum supply. Additional options include IV poles and smoke evacuation. A flexible docking process automatically cleans the reservoirs with hot water and enzymatic solution and applies an EPA-approved disinfecting agent.