Tube Scoop:
Insider's Guide to Cleaning Lap Instruments

Will Things Start Looking Up?

There is light at the end of the tunnel for people who have the job of cleaning laparoscopic instruments.  The word is that the Food and Drug Administration is adding further requirements that new designs allow laparoscopic instruments to be thoroughly cleaned.  So if your hospital is buying new instrumentation, the vendor should be showing you instruments that can be taken apart or that have a cleaning port to enable you to achieve effective decontamination.

First-generation lap instruments-- ones that are about seven to nine years old-- are extremely hard, if not impossible, to clean.  With the second generation, manufacturers started to put in cleaning ports.  Now, third-generation items can be disassembled for cleaning.  Unfortunately, many hospitals own first generation laparoscopic sets.  If you have first generation instruments, it may be possible to add cleaning ports to them, which would definitely improve your ability to use good decontamination techniques.

Also, if your hospital is in the market for new instrumentation, be aware that a lot of companies have been moving in and out of the business, so many are liquidating old inventories.  Don't buy uncleanable lap instruments at $150 each.  Look for newer instruments with cleaning ports or ones that can be taken apart.  If you're considering the purchase of discontinued or liquidated instruments, buyer beware!

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