title: Reuse of single use items in minimal access surgery.
abstract: UK Government guidelines state that single use instruments, including those used in minimal access surgery, should not be reprocessed because of the risk of-patient injury. In order to determine the incidence of this practice in minimal access surgery a questionnaire was issued to all participants of an Advanced Laparoscopy for Theatre Personnel course between 1994 and 1996. There was a 55% response rate. 27% of respondents had resterilised an instrument within the past year. More senior nurses resterilised more often and the request was usually made by Senior Registrars and Consultants, 52% of resterilised instruments were used with diathermy, the commonest being scissors. The practice was almost exclusive to the NHS. Since the course 44% of respondents have changed their practice. These results have implications for patient safety, staff indemnity, education and training for nurses and surgeons involved in minimal access surgery.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Willmer
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Willson
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McEnteggart
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rogers
mesh_terms: D017743:Equipment Reuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009871:Operating Room Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom