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Sterile air system for orthopaedic operations
Written by Communications Team   

With autumn and winter just around the corner and the likelihood of people slipping on wet leaves or falling on icy surfaces the chances are that the orthopaedic staff will be kept very busy at Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust!

Work has been carried out this summer to install a £200,000 "Ultra Clean Laminar Flow" system in another operating theatre at St. Peter’s Hospital, completing the installation of this system in all five Orthopaedic theatres: three at Ashford Hospital and two at St. Peter’s Hospital.

Whether it’s broken hips or major joint replacement orthopaedic surgery, it is vital that there is a minimal risk of infection for the patient while these operations are taking place. This sophisticated air flow filter system goes a long way towards achieving that goal.

The wound area is kept clear of the minute particles that could cause infection by a sterile air supply filtered to create an air "canopy" immediately above the operating table. This ultra-clean air is filtered through at approximately 500 air changes an hour, following a planned route down towards the floor. From there it is forced outwards, away from the operating area.

Said Clinical Director for Orthopaedics at the Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon Mr Chris Schofield: “A new laminar flow theatre for Orthopaedics and Trauma has recently been commissioned at St. Peter’s Hospital. As part of our Enhancing Trauma Care programme this new facility will be used to accommodate a daily all-day trauma list. This replaces a rather fragmented week of separate trauma lists, and will significantly enhance patient care.

"The laminar flow enclosure is designed to reduce the incidence of wound infection, this is especially important in Trauma and Orthopaedics due to the large number of implants used in this type of surgery."

Before the work was carried out over six weeks this summer an enormous amount of planning had to go into both how the installation would be carried out and how the other operating theatres could continue to be used for surgical work at the same time.

Mick Hickman, Capital Projects Manager for the Trust, said that early discussions between the Capital Projects Team and the Business Manager for Anaesthetics and Theatres, Stephen von Kier, ensured minimum disruption to both staff and patients alike.

Full understanding of the complete works involved, including all subsequent commissioning and training, guaranteed that a sensible and achievable programme was agreed by all key players, including the Principal Contractor and nominated sub-contractors, and this was successfully implemented on time and on budget.