Low-tech solutions can significantly improve safety in the operation room, according to guidelines to deter surgical errors that the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recently released. But there are also plenty of advanced technologies that make surgery safer than ever. Here are four of these technologies that help humans in the operation room and consequently make surgery safer.

The O-Arm and Navigation System

Children requiring surgery for their eyes, brain, spine, and nose, throat as well as ear conditions are now benefiting from this new technology. The O-Arm and navigation system provides high-quality real-time 3-D images and improves surgical conditions for the hospital surgery team and the patients. This particular technology is capable of scanning from every angle and, therefore, enables surgeons to operate with greater accuracy. 

Before the discovery of this technology, surgeons had to operate “blind” in some areas inside the body of their patients. The O-Arm helps surgeons to see structures and body organs that are hidden from the naked eye. Because of this, children experience reduced tissues trauma, reduced contamination and infection risk, and reduced post-operation pain.

Retained Surgical Tracking Systems

The FDA recently approved advanced surgical technological tracking systems that ensure all manner of surgical instruments such as sponges are kept where they belong, namely, outside the body of the patient. These systems keep track of every item in the room through RFID chips and alert operation room staff when any of these instruments are not in their proper place. Some of these systems have a wand that whenever an operation room staff waves over the body of the patient, it detects any surgical items left behind.

Retained surgical tracking systems prevent alarm fatigue. This term “alarm fatigue” refers to a scenario where clinicians and caregivers become overwhelmed by alarms to the point that they turn them off. Modern tracking systems can differentiate between serious alerts and less pressing matters. They prioritize the significance of these alerts and only notify the concerned parties about an essential needs and provide them with historical and real-time information about the condition of their patients.

Advanced Electrosurgical Generator

Advanced electrosurgical generators, such the mega power electrosurgical generator, are a simple, intuitive, and easy to set up solution devices that allow surgical teams to perform their work efficiently and safely. These generators are a key component in the electrosurgical circuit as they give out waveforms that also produce corresponding effects on the tissues of patients as electrosurgical waveforms change, which adds significant ease and efficiency to the entire surgical process.

Other this major benefit, advanced electrosurgical generators are highly visible, even at a distance, as they are large and their displays are easy to read. Their recall also features readily recall previous power settings and modes on setup. Furthermore, these generators’ power switches are easily accessible on their front panels, and they have highly visible return electrode warning light. These advanced devices have eight clearly labeled and easily selectable mode settings. All these features ensure that the advanced power generators improve the overall functionality in surgical settings and increase the efficiency of the surgical staff. 

Surgical Robot Systems

Lack of access to anesthesiologist affects patients, particularly in rural areas. According to Anesthesia & Analgesia, experts can use surgical robots to administer regional anesthesia from afar. An operator who is not physically present at the bedside can administer a single injection and perineural catheter techniques by placing ultrasound-guided nerve blocks into an ultrasound phantom using surgical robot systems.

Advanced surgical technologies decrease intricate and time-consuming procedures that are prone to human error. They also eliminate the confusion and frustration associated with the earlier class of surgical tools. For these reasons, advanced technologies make surgery safer.