An operating table ( known as a surgical table or operation table) is one of the basic but inevitable equipment for an operating room. Always there are a few key points you have to consider before making a decision to buy an operating table.
1. How does an operating table work?
Operating tables require a source of power to control the various settings such as the height of the table or the inclination of the sleeping surface (tabletop).
We can thus distinguish between:
Electric operating tables: the table movements are carried out via an electric actuator, most often controlled by remote control.
Hydraulic operating tables: are powered by a hydraulic source of energy and are generally controlled by a pedal.
Sometimes operating tables can combine different operating modes and have, for example, an adjustable sleeping surface via an electric actuator and an adjustable headrest via a hydraulic actuator.
2. What functionality and features do you want for your table?
What kind of surgery will be done in your OR will determine the functions and features of the table you will buy.
If you need a table for general surgery, then you will need a table with all functions like left&right tilt, Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg, divided into at least 5 sections, etc. TheYA-03E is a model for general surgery with all necessary functions.
If you need a table for ENT, then the table should have an extremely low height, YA-02E is a model for ENT surgery.
If you need a table for the bariatric patients, then you will need a table like YA-07EH with extra weight-bearing.
If you need a table for whole length C-arm accessible, then you will need a table like YA-01Ewith a horizontal sliding function.
3. What budget are you preparing to spend?
You can choose any brand with any model with an unlimited budget. However, normally we will have a budget for spending on the purchase. What you have to do is to utilize the budget maximum to buy the right table with the functions and quality you need.
If you have a budget of around 2500 USD, the model YA-10E is an ideal option for you with electric control, it is featured with a double deck for X-ray radioscopy and is suitable for all kinds of general operations.
If you have a budget of around 5000 USD, then YA-05E is a very recommended model for you to chose, it has all general functions and 4 pre-set memory functions, and a mobile on big caster for mobility management.
If you have a budget of over 8000 USD, then the electro-hydraulic table is recommended likeYA-07EH, the moving speed is fast and it bears extra weighted patient.
4. What accessories do you want to equip?
Generally, an operating table bears basic accessories like a shoulder fixer, waist support, foot support, leg holder, anesthesia screen. However, if you want to do some surgeries like shoulder operation, limb surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, then some special accessories will be needed. For example, orthopedic traction is necessary for orthopedic surgery, the stirrup set is necessary for lithotomy surgery, skull clamp is necessary for brain surgery, etc..
5. What brands are you preferring?
When anyone decides to buy something, the brand is one point that you can not ignore, and sometimes it will affect the buyer’s decision heavily. There are very famous international brands for the surgical table, for example, steris, maquet, mindray. The top brand surgical tables are of high quality, however, the price sometimes is too high to exceed the budget. Medik surgical as a new star brand from China for OR solution is able to provide a reliable quality surgical tables with more than 10 years of manufacturing experience and 20 years of market experience, products are being used widely in over 500 international hospitals.
6. The best operating tables.
While there is not one perfect operating table, choosing the right operating table for each surgical procedure is important for patient safety and successful outcomes in the operating room. The decision to use a certain operating table over another depends on patient risk factors, positioning abilities, type of procedure, and length of the procedure. Some features of good surgical tables include versatility, ease of use, reliability, generous weight and height restrictions, and accessory capabilities.
7. Common positions for operating tables
There are several positions suitable for various surgical procedures: supine, prone, lateral, Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg, lithotomy and sitting positions.
* Supine position: The position is the most common patient position used in the OR. Common complications associated with the supine position are backaches and pressure-point reactions.
* Prone position: The prone position is where the patient lies face down and is commonly used for access to the posterior head, neck, and spine during spinal surgery.
* Sitting position (or Fowler’s position): The sleeping surface is converted into a chair with the patient sitting at a 90° angle. The knees are slightly flexed and the feet are placed against a padded footboard. This position is ideal for neurosurgery or maxillofacial surgery.
* Trendelenburg position: The position is a variation on the supine position. The sleeping surface is inclined in this case, with the patient’s lower limbs higher than his or her head. This position is suitable for interventions in the abdominal area for better visualization of the organs.
* Reverse Trendelenburg position: Commonly known as the head-up and feet-down position, the reverse Trendelenburg has often been used in head and neck procedures this position is very convenient for head and neck operations, for example.
* Lithotomy position: The lithotomy position is a variation of the supine position in which the hips are flexed, the legs abducted, and the knees flexed. Stirrups are needed for this position.
* Lateral position: Lateral position is when the patient is positioned with the non-operative side placed on the surgical surface. This position is suitable for hip or kidney operations, for example.
