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Surgical Table Straps: Maximize Patient Safety in the O.R.

During surgical procedures, patients are exposed to various risks, including anesthesia complications, surgical errors, and postoperative infections. To minimize these risks, it is crucial for medical professionals to be equipped with both a clear understanding of their procedure and the right equipment to enable a seamless surgical experience. 

Surgical table straps, which wrap around the operating table or loop through side rails, are especially important as they provide support and stability throughout the procedure. These straps are designed to secure and position patients, reducing any movement that may increase the risk of injury and allowing the surgical team to focus on the procedure. 

Ensuring Safety and Successful Outcomes in the O.R.

During surgery, the patient is often positioned in a way that allows the surgical team to have optimal access to the surgical site. However, improper positioning can cause complications such as nerve damage, skin breakdown, pressure injury, and muscle trauma. These complications can sometimes result in severe pain and discomfort for the patient and reduce the chances of a successful surgery.  

To help ensure the safety of the patient and the success of the procedure, surgical table straps are used to secure the patient in the desired position. These straps are designed to help maintain the patient's position while ensuring that no unnecessary movement occurs during the surgical procedure. This also helps maintain unobstructed access to the surgical site. 

Without surgical table straps, patients may move or shift during the operation, leading to surgical errors or complications. These straps ensure that the patient remains stable and secure, minimizing the risk of complications and giving the patient the best possible chance of a successful surgical outcome.

Choosing the Right Surgical Table Straps 

Patient safety straps come in a variety of types for various needs and procedures. With a diverse range of styles available, it’s important to choose straps that fit your facility’s infection control protocols, the needs of the patient, the type of procedure, and the type of surgical table. 

Disposable vs. reusable: Infection control is essential to the safety of both staff and patients. When it comes to surgical table straps, there are a variety of disposable and reusable options to reduce the risk of cross-contamination, depending on your facility’s protocols. 

Disposable AliStrap® Patient Positioning Straps are designed for single-patient use, reducing the risk of contaminants being passed from one patient to another. Because these straps can be disposed of immediately after use, they also offer easier cleanup and quicker operating room turnover time. 

AliMed’s reusable VeriClean™ O.R. Table Straps are the only high-level, disinfectable surgical table  straps on the market, featuring ultrasonically welded seams that allow for complete and repeated submersion in central processing disinfectants. Straps are also free of punctures, holes, and stitching leaving nowhere for bacteria to hide. This reduces the risk of cross-contamination, allowing for multi patient use.  

Patient condition: When choosing which type of surgical table straps to use, the condition of the patient is a critical factor. Bariatric patients, for example, require larger straps with higher weight capacities, such as AliMed® Bariatric Super Straps. Patients with sensitive or fragile skin, such as pediatric or geriatric patients, may need straps that won’t irritate or damage the skin. AliMed’s AliStrap® Soft combines the strength and security of AliStrap with a softer, fully padded surface that is gentler against skin.

Type of procedure: Specific types of procedures may call for a specific type of table strap. Procedures in which the patient is placed in the Reverse Trendelenburg position, for instance, require Nissen Straps. These straps are designed to prevent the patient from slipping during this steep positioning, ensuring the safety of the patient.

Armboard straps are also important for patient positioning and security during procedures that require immobilization of the arm with reusable and disposable options available. AliMed® Reusable Armboard Straps are constructed of black conductive vinyl that’s comfortable against skin and cleans easily with disinfectant. 

Type of surgical table: Different surgical tables also require specific straps to ensure proper patient positioning. Some straps are compatible with surgical tables that have no side rails, while others are designed specifically to loop through the side rails of the table. AliMed® Universal Table Straps, for example, are highly versatile and pre-configured, offering options for both types of surgical tables.  

Surgical table straps are essential for patient security and proper positioning during surgery, making them a critical component of any successful procedure. Therefore, it is necessary to have the right type of surgical table strap for each surgical procedure to achieve the best possible outcome for the patient. Medical professionals should always prioritize the safety and well-being of the patient, and surgical table straps play an integral role in achieving this goal.

Whatever your facility needs, AliMed offers a full line of Patient Positioning Straps for optimal patient security and stabilization during any type of procedure.