CSSD Technicians: Know Your Instruments

The CSSD Supervisor/Manager must always have a procedure in place to prevent time wasted in the operating theatre during the operation because a specific instrument is not in a set or an instrument is not functional. Refer to Handbook for CSSD Technicians: Understanding the Basics.

This usually entails the circulating nurse leaving the theatre to find a single packed instrument or opening another set to obtain a “missing” or non-functional instrument so that the surgery can continue.

If the latter occurs, more work is created for the CSSD staff because this additional (unnecessary) set must again be processed. This is usually because the CSSD technician does not know that a specific set cannot be packed without a specific instrument, or that an instrument is broken and/or faulty.

That is why this book was written… to assist the CSSD technician in making informed decisions and to ensure patient safety at all times