Although we want our equipment to last forever, eventually medical equipment will inevitably start to break down – especially if the clinical product is high-tech and costs as much as the operating table.
There are warning signs you should know that will help you determine when an operating table needs maintenance, service or a complete remanufacturing process.
In this article, we will tell you about these signs and the options for replacement.
1. Table tops
Look for excessive tabletop movement – rotational, lateral and end-to-end.
First, try it without the patient. Then, place the patient on top and observe.
If you feel an unevenness or movement on the tabletop, this could be a sign of mechanical wear. On the other hand, it could also be an ageing hydraulic system.
2. Floor locks
Do the floor locks stay down? Do they all work or do one or two of them not work?
A common problem with hospital operating table floor locks is that the rubber handles come off.
Do they slip when the floor locks are locked? They should remain stable.
3. Oil leaks
Are there any visible oil leaks?
Sometimes there is an oil leak hidden under the lid. How often does your biomedical, maintenance or third party maintenance company look at them?
Oil leaks can sometimes lead to bigger problems than you can only see with your eyes.
4. Broken controls and indicators
Here are a few things to check.
For example, your operating table has manual controls to check, but you must also check the manual controls and the controls on the table (if applicable).
Another thing to check is that the manual controls are working.
5. Peeling paint, torn gaskets, damaged lids
Your surgical operating table will inevitably take abuse from the things that hit it and the rigorous cleaning that occurs after surgery. Eventually, you will see the exterior begin to show signs of wear and tear.
The exterior finish is the first line of defence in keeping your operating table in good working order.
6. Hydraulic or electrical problems
When you press a button on a hand control, you expect the result to be a specific operation. When the hydraulic system starts to fail, or there is a slight disconnection from the electrical system, the action will not happen in the way you expect.
You may have a hydraulic leak, which will only get worse. The last thing you want is for the operating table to break down in the middle of a procedure.
Both of these problems usually require a more in-depth fix than a quick visit from a maintenance person.
7. stiff and irregular main lift movement, worn or noisy gears
Does your surgical operating table make a grinding sound when you raise or lower it? Is there a hesitation in the movement or is it smooth and continuous?
Sometimes you won’t hear a grinding sound, but you may feel or see that the lift seems to be jamming something or not maintaining the same speed.
All these situations are a warning that there may be a problem with the table and that it needs to be repaired promptly.
8. Batteries
Check the operating table batteries annually for signs of wear and inefficiency.
If you notice that the table is not holding a charge as long as it used to, this may be a sign that the battery is running low. Consider replacing the batteries every 5 years.
What you don’t want is batteries that will eventually explode after you neglect them. If they do, it’s not a good situation for anyone.
9. Torn power cords
You should check the power cord of your table regularly. If the power cord starts to tear, it could be subject to potential danger from liquid and electrical fires.
Be sure to check the power cord in more detail during your preventive maintenance appointments for the operating table.
10. Table mats
Finally – and this is important – check the cushions/mats on the table. Are there any cuts and tears? Has tape been applied to it in an attempt to close up the perforations? The safety of your staff and patients is vital – don’t risk the spread of infection by using older germ-filled mats.
What are your options for fixing a broken operating table?
Once your operating table has broken down as described above, you need to take action. But what actions can you take, and what actions should you take?
Fixing an operating table
The first question is whether your table has any type of warranty. If we are talking about after the warranty period, the next question is whether the breakdown can be fixed by repair or biomedicine, or whether a more specialised technician and/or equipment is required.
More likely, these repairs will be one-offs, as a temporary measure to keep the table in use.
On the plus side, as long as they are kept to a minimum, they are the most straightforward and cost effective of the three options. Are you tracking the cost of repairing each operating table?
Replacing an operating table with a new one,e.g. HOWELL Medical operating table.
Choose to use a new operating table to replace a broken one. If you are not flush with cash, we all know how difficult it can be to obtain funding for capital purchases. However, this option is still a good, long-term solution.
