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Hello, my name is Angela Maria Espitia Herrera , and I am an eighth-semester student in the Surgical Technology program. Today, I’m pleased to present a key topic in our professional development: patient safety in the operating room and the role of the surgical technologist.

As future healthcare professionals, we have the responsibility to actively contribute to reducing risks in the surgical environment, ensuring safe and effective procedures while preventing avoidable errors. This project aims to highlight the importance of our role within the surgical team and how, through adherence to protocols and effective communication, we can make a meaningful impact on surgical outcomes and patients' lives.

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Patient safety in the operating room is a fundamental aspect of modern surgical care. Every member of the surgical team plays a vital role in preventing errors and improving surgical outcomes. In this context, the surgical technologist holds a key position by ensuring proper instrument preparation, strict adherence to biosafety protocols, and effective coordination within the team. This topic aims to highlight the importance of their role in creating a safe, efficient, and patient-centered surgical environment.

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Errors in patient or procedure identification

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)

Retained surgical items (sponges, gauze)

Sterilization failures

Poor communication within the surgical team

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How To Do The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist

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1. Before anesthesia: Verifying patient identity, procedure, and consent.

2. Before incision: Confirming surgical site and instrument availability.

3. Before leaving the OR: Counting instruments, labeling samples, reviewing any incidents.

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Patient safety in the surgical environment largely depends on effective infection prevention and the proper application of protocols like the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist. Sterilization techniques not only ensure the elimination of microorganisms but also serve as a fundamental barrier against postoperative complications.

The surgical technologist plays a key role in rigorously applying these practices—maintaining the sterility chain, verifying instruments, and promoting a safe environment for the patient. These strategies have proven to significantly reduce infection rates, complications, and surgical mortality.

In conclusion, proper sterilization, constant vigilance, and teamwork under international protocols are essential pillars for safe, high-quality surgery.

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Role of the surgical technologist in safety

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Role of the surgical technologist in safety

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Operating Room Preparation:

Ensures the sterility of instruments and the surgical field.

Verifies the proper functioning of equipment and materials.

Prepares everything necessary for the specific surgical procedure.

Sterile Technique:

Maintains asepsis to prevent infections.

Controls the sterile environment, avoiding cross-contamination.

Instrument Control:

Counts and verifies instruments before, during, and after surgery to prevent retained surgical items.

Delivers instruments accurately and promptly to the surgeon.

Effective Communication:

Collaborates with the surgical team to anticipate needs.

Reports any anomaly or situation that may affect patient safety.

Compliance with Protocols:

Applies biosafety standards and hospital protocols.

Participates in the surgical safety checklist to prevent errors.

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World Health Organization (WHO) (2009).
Surgical Safety Checklist. Retrieved from: www.who.int

Haynes, A. B., et al. (2009).
A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality.
NEJM, 360(5), 491–499. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMsa0810119

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2023).
Surgical Site Infection Guidelines.
Retrieved from: www.cdc.gov/hai

Rutala, W. A. & Weber, D. J. (2016).
Disinfection and sterilization in healthcare facilities.
Infect Dis Clin N Am, 30(3), 609–637.

Association of Surgical Technologists (AST) (2023).
Standards of Practice for Instrument Sterilization.
Retrieved from: www.ast.org

Wikipedia Contributors (2024).
WHO Surgical Safety Checklist.
Retrieved from: en.wikipedia.org

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Bar Chart (Before vs. After the Checklist):

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Bar Chart (Before vs. After the Checklist):

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📉 Proven Results:

🔹 Reduction in surgical complications: Decreased from 11% to 7% after the implementation of the checklist.

🔹 Decrease in surgical mortality: Dropped from 1.5% to 0.8%, especially in emergency surgeries.

🔹 Improved communication within the surgical team: Teams using the checklist report fewer errors and better coordination.

🔹 Prevention of critical errors: Helps avoid wrong-site surgeries, patient misidentification, and missing surgical instruments.