When the patient is in the operating room, it is important to ensure the patient is safe and as comfortable as possible. Among the tools whose importance is not studied adequately, one has to mention the roles that the OT table mat plays in contributing to these aspects. These are surgical mats which are used to provide comfort to the patient and support especially during surgery to minimize complications. This article looks at how five point OT table mats, gel pads and prone head rests enhance patient safety and comfort during surgeries.
The Importance of Patient Comfort
For operations, patients might feel a high level of physical stress depending on the type and duration of the surgery done. Surgery is a procedure that takes time and any form of stay in one position can cause pressure ulcers, nerve palsies and many other complications. That is where OT table mat can be of service. These are mats that are developed in a way that they would spread the weight of the patient over a larger area thus relieving pressure points such as the back, shoulders as well as the hip. Reducing pressure points reduces chances of the formation of pressure ulcers hence making the patient as comfortable as possible during surgery.
The Role of Gel Pads
Gel pads can also be considered as another element to seek in the search for patient comfort. They are frequently used with the OT table mats in order to gain extra thickness and support when needed. Gel pads have the advantage whereby they come in the form of the patient’s body and hence reduce more pressure on the affected areas. It is especially helpful for patients with specific requirements, for example patients with pressure ulcers or those that have to be positioned in a certain manner during the operation.
OT table mats when placed together with gel pads seem to provide support to the patient which in turn leads to increased patient comfort. Considering that such tools help to decrease the chances of getting pressure-related injuries, they improve the results of surgeries and increase the people’s rates of recovery.
Reducing Surgical Risks
Apart from the issue of comfort, the OT table mats are therefore very useful in the minimization of surgical risks. In surgical operations it is necessary to place the patient in certain positions that will give the surgeons the best possible angle of access to the particular area of surgery. Nonetheless, wrong positioning is likely to result in complications like nerve damage, strained muscles and breathing problems. Whilst in the OT table, we have the table mat, gel pads, and prone head rest to ensure that the correct posture is observed during the procedure.
The special category of head rests that are movable, usually down, are vital especially in operative procedures that need the patients to be in a prone position. These rests also allow the head and the neck to rest properly without obstructing the airway or applying too much pressure on the face or on the skull. It also eliminates discomfort and decreases possibilities of respiratory issues as well as pressure ulcers.
Enhancing Surgical Precision
OT table mats also help in improving the safety of patients in a surgical procedure in a way that includes the issue of precision. A well-supported patient, for example a patient with good muscular tone, is less likely to shift in his or her position during surgery thus enabling the surgeons to operate as accurately as they wish. This is done with the aid of other accessories such as the gel pads and prone head rests, which not only stabilize the patient but at the same time allows easy access to the sighted surgical area thereby reducing cases of complications.
Conclusion
Surgical technologists have to know that in the operating room setting, every piece of equipment that will make the patient safer or more comfortable is a boon. Therefore, when application of gel pads and prone head rest is combined with the use of o.t table mats, then they are very effective in serving such purposes. In this manner these implements can help to prevent surgical hazards and accentuate precise positioning to benefit the patient. To the surgeons and any healthcare provider, there is no better way of finding a solution to this than by ensuring that they offer high quality OT table mat and accessories possible to their patients.
For any surgeon who wishes to improve on the services they offer or for a patient who wants to prepare for the surgery, knowing the importance of OT table mats will indeed have a big impact on the experience and the results of the surgery as a whole.