EFHSS Questions and Answers - Question Q00278

Dear Sirs,

Octopus is being used in cardio-vascular surgeries in very frequently. As octopus is expensive, it is very difficult to afford the cost of octopus by a common middle class patient. So in almost all the developing countries started using it for multiple number of times following low temparature sterilization. But as cleaning is very important prior to sterilization, can you explain how can we better achieve the cleaning of it.

Thanks,
Muralikrishnan.

Dear Sir,

I just saw your question about resterilisation of the octopus (Medtronic), and although I am working for Guidant and our stabilizer is called the Axius.
I take the freedom to answer you, because both of these devices are very similar.

As you mentioned yourself the main problem is cleaning!

Because this is a vacuum stabilizer you always suck blood in the system (in the 2 feet of the stabilizer and so to the tubing ending in the reservoir)
So not easy to clean, especially the feet.

The flexible arm made of interlocking links around a cable are in contact with blood during the usage and very difficult to clean in a good way.

Because cleaning is a very important faze in the complete sterilisation program I would not recommend to reuse these kinds of material in the future.

I suggest that if cost is the only issue to resterilise in your hospital, the surgeons should use a metal reusable stabilizer that is on the market.
This is a mechanical stabilizer and do not work with vacuum. But can be resterilized.


Best Regards.

Alain Decraemer

Distributors Manager Europe
Cardiac Surgery Division