Clean air bench. Use for sterile maintenance of unwrapped surgical instruments

C. Fremstad and J. S. Welch

Microbiologic sterility of unwrapped surgical instruments has been maintained for long periods by the use of an operating room instrument cabinet that continuously circulates high-flow, "particle-free" air. Use of this clean air bench has had excellent acceptance by operating room nurses and by surgeons because fewer instrument storage procedures are needed and setup time, takedown time, and case turnover time in the operating room are diminished. It has been found to be effective in operating rooms having busy schedules for both elective and emergency procedures.