Measuring and evaluating standardization of scrub nurse instrument table setups: a multi-center study.

Objectives: In-depth knowledge about surgical processes is a crucial prerequisite for future systems in operating rooms and the advancement of standards and patient safety in surgery. A holistic approach is required, but research in the field of surgical instrument tables, standardized instrument setups and involved personnel, such as nurses, is sparse in general. The goal of this study is to evaluate whether there is an existing standard within clinics for an instrument table setup.

Design and evaluation of an interactive training system for scrub nurses.

Objective: The current trend toward increasingly integrated technological support systems and the rise of streamlined processes in the OR have led to a growing demand for personnel with higher levels of training. Although simulation systems are widely used and accepted in surgical training, they are practically non-existent for perioperative nursing, especially scrub nursing. This paper describes and evaluates an interactive OR environment simulation to help train scrub nurses.

An Improved Instrument Table for Use in Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

Background: The clinical motivation for the current study was that various instrument tables are located far away from the patient's head, and the only way for the surgeon to access an instrument is via a scrub nurse. Thus, the idea for this study was the development and evaluation of an improved and conveniently positioned instrument table.

Material And Methods: An improved instrument table (IT) was designed, built, and tested.

Less is sometimes more: a comparison of distance-control and navigated-control concepts of image-guided navigation support for surgeons.

Unlabelled: Image-guided navigation (IGN) systems provide automation support of intra-operative information analysis and decision-making for surgeons. Previous research showed that navigated-control (NC) systems which represent high levels of decision-support and directly intervene in surgeons' workflow provide benefits with respect to patient safety and surgeons' physiological stress but also involve several cost effects (e.g.

Increased polysialic acid neural cell adhesion molecule expression in human hippocampus of heroin addicts.

Chronic exposure to heroin is known to cause cognitive deficits. However, little is known about the underlying molecular mechanisms. It has been suggested that opiate-induced neurotoxicity as well as impaired plasticity and regeneration may be relevant.