Preventing complications in orthopedic surgeryDr. Lukas Månsson is the Head of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Emergency Medicine at Vestre Viken Hospital in Drammen, Norway. He is an orthopedic surgeon specializing primarily in hip, shoulder and trauma surgery. Dr. Månsson has worked as an orthopedic surgeon for 16 years in various hospitals across Norway and Sweden.
A few years ago, Vestre Viken Hospital discovered the benefits of the Toul Meditech Operio for orthopedic surgery. Dr. Månsson has been using the system since 2015 and values both its contribution to infection control and the cost savings it provides.
Orthopedic surgery is performed across two different hospitals within the Vestre Viken system. In 2014, the orthopedic team began reviewing new clean-air systems as part of a major renovation of existing operating rooms. “With inconsistent data on the performance of LAF ceilings (Laminar Air Flow), we explored alternatives and discovered the Toul Meditech Operio,” says Dr. Månsson. “It became a choice between a traditional LAF ceiling and the Toul Meditech Operio. The Operio stood out for three key reasons. First, there was strong and consistently published evidence demonstrating its performance, both preclinical and subclinical. Second, the system gives us better control over clean airflow during surgery, directed toward both the surgical site and the instrument table. The third key factor was cost. The Operio offers significant savings in lifecycle costs.”
Since 2015, Vestre Viken Hospital has used the Toul Meditech system in more than 5,000 joint replacement procedures and more than 3,000 spinal surgeries, as well as many other operations. It is currently used for all joint replacements and spinal procedures.
No downtime
The system was first implemented in one of the smaller hospitals within Vestre Viken. The Operio was introduced in December 2019 when the main operating theater was undergoing renovation. Joint replacement surgeries scheduled during that period were continued in the day-surgery department. “Without the Toul Meditech Operio this would not have been possible, as that department was about 20 years old and originally designed for procedures that did not require ultra-clean operating environments,” explains Dr. Månsson. “With the Toul system, we were confident that we had clean air and could make full use of the space we had available.”
Adopting new technology
The Toul Meditech system was integrated smoothly into the surgical workflow of the orthopedic department. “With the Operio, you need to review and align your processes. Nurses and surgeons using the system need to truly understand it,” Dr. Månsson emphasizes. “Once you learn how to work with it, you can remain highly efficient, but your efficiency has to be matched to the working level or the working level has to be adjusted to this type of equipment.”
Covid-19 pandemic
The Covid-19 pandemic affected Norway, though not as severely as some other countries. “If you look at the global impact of the pandemic, there is now a major backlog of elective surgeries worldwide. Any technology that can reduce the risk of complications during major surgery contributes to increasing surgical capacity,” says Dr. Månsson. “Some orthopedic conditions already require a great deal of resources to treat, involving lengthy operations and extended hospital stays. One of the greatest sources of waste in healthcare is major complications and overtreatment. So anything we can do to reduce complications will free up capacity to address that backlog.
I believe it is extremely important that in the post-Covid-19 period we focus closely on infection control and learn as much as possible from the pandemic experience. My expectation is that using the Toul Meditech system will remain a cost-efficient component of infection control in surgical practice.
Dr. Lukas Månsson
Head of Orthopedic Surgery and Emergency Medicine, Vestre Viken Hospital, Drammen, Norway.
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