Discoloration
In previous posts on this site, we’ve repeatedly discussed two key concepts: 1) the critical importance of frequent and consistent inspection of surgical instruments to the instrument cycle, and 2) the significant clinical implications that can result from central service departments neglecting to properly inspect or test instruments.
After all, poorly maintained instruments can inhibit a surgeon from operating with precision, which in turn can compromise patient recovery, especially when, as a result, surgeries last longer than expected or the patient experiences trauma to the surgical site.
While full surgical inspection has many components, one simple step central service technicians can take to keep faulty instruments from reentering the surgery cycle is a visual inspection. Best completed post decontamination, visual inspections should be done for every surgical instrument to gauge both cleanliness and proper working order. The key issues to look out for include spotting, staining, surface corrosion, pitting, and other types of discoloration.