Prospective Study on the Use of Trays (Procedure-Specific Compilation of Medical Devices in a Sterile Package) Compared to the Standard Procedure

Thomas Otto; Katharina Hansen Dimitri Barski; Klaus Höffgen

Prospective Study on the Use of Trays (Procedure-Specific Compilation of Medical Devices in a Sterile Package) Compared to the Standard Procedure

by Thomas Otto^1,2*Katharina Hansen¹ Dimitri Barski^1,3Klaus Höffgen⁴

¹Clinic for Urology, Rheinland Klinikum Neuss, Germany

²University Essen, Medical School, Germany

³Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Medical School, Germany

⁴IT Department, Rheinland Klinikum Neuss, Germany

^*Corresponding author: Thomas Otto, Coordinator of the Expert Group “Circularity in Medicine “, 41464 Neuss, Preussenstr. 84, Germany

Received Date: 29 January 2025

Accepted Date: 10 February, 2025

Published Date: 13 February, 2025

Citation: Otto T, Hansen K, Barski D, Hoffgen K (2025) Prospective Study on the Use of Trays (Procedure-Specific Compilation of Medical Devices in a Sterile Package) Compared to the Standard Procedure. Int J Nurs Health Care Res 8:1615. https://doi.org/10.29011/2688-9501.101615

Abstract

Background: Trays are a specific compilation of required materials/medical devices in a sterile outer packaging/package in consultation between manufacturer and user. Methods: In a urological “high volume” facility with 11920 urological operations/procedures/year (2023), the effect of trays compared to the standard procedure in a total of n=64 operations was examined in a prospective, comparative study from 29.10.-30.11.2024. The main objective criteria are the amount (volume/cm3, weight/gr.) of packaging waste and the set-up time (min). A secondary objective criterion is the evaluation of the workflow by the nursing staff using a numerical score (0-10). Results: For endourological operations, set-up time has been reduced by 35%, packaging waste by 34% and packaging volume by 19.0%. The workflow was rated positively with 9.75/10 points. For major surgery, the set-up time has been reduced by 43%, the packaging weight by 24.8% and the packaging volume by 32%. The workflow was rated positively with 8.9/10 score points. Conclusion: Trays have a sustainable and significant impact on the amount of packaging waste, save time for OR nursing staff during OR preparation and make work easier for nursing staff.

Keywords: Sustainability; Green hospital; Surgical tray; Packaging waste; Workflow analysis