Basic Operating Room Set-up

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BASIC OPERATING ROOM SETUP

The typical operating suite is constructed in such a way that there is a continuous progression from the entrance, through zones that increasingly approach sterility, to the operating rooms.

There are basically three zones in a standard operating suite of any hospital (Fig. 1).

The outer zone is represented by areas within the operating suite but still outside the rooms in which operations are actually performed. Street clothes and shoes should be removed upon entering the outer zone and replaced by clean scrub suits and operating room shoes or slippers.

The middle zone is represented by the main hallway of the operating suite which interconnects the various operating room proper. It also contains the scrubbing areas and the storage rooms for surgical instruments. All persons entering this middle zone should already be wearing the proper operating room attire, namely, clean scrub suit, clean shoes or slippers, cap and mask.

The inner zone is represented by the room where the operation is actually performed. If an operation is going on, it involves a sterile operative field, scrubbed personnel wearing sterile attire, and sterile instruments exposed to the room environment. Thus all persons inside the operating room proper should be in proper attire. Talking should be minimal. All movements should be smooth and minimal to reduce air currents that may contaminate the field with bacteria containing air particles.