Laparoscopic Instruments

Laparoscopic surgery requires sophisticated and precisely calibrated instruments. The essential difference between instruments used in open surgery and people utilized for laparoscopic surgery would be that the latter are more complex in design and yet delicate in construction. Thus the laparoscopic instruments are more vulnerable to lodging of bioburden (micro-organisms and debris) within their crevices. Thus, the LI are difficult to clean, sterilize adequately and maintain as compared to their counterparts used in open surgery. Moreover, owing to their delicate design, gentlest methods have to be used for cleaning in addition to sterilization. Also, meticulous cleaning, maintenance in addition to sterilization are necessary so that not to compromise the safety from the patient, the surgeon or other operating room personnel. The rise in complexity of the laparoscopic procedures as also the emergence of resistant strains of bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi and viruses makes it imperative to effectively clean and disinfect instruments. Sterilization is the absolute elimination or destruction of forms of microbial life. It may be achieved with steam, gas or chemicals. However, disinfection is the relative removal of pathogenic organisms except spores.