Hybrid operating rooms: clinical advantages and enhanced flexibility for every procedure

Increasingly, clinicians require more versatile environments that can enable them to carry out complex minimally invasive procedures with the flexibility to perform both open and complex MIS procedures in the same room.

Over the past 20 years there has been huge growth in outpatient surgery. Today, more than half of patients leave the hospital on the same day as their operation. The use of catheter-based treatments instead of open vascular work for cardiac procedures is on the rise as well. Hospitals today need to reconfigure their operating rooms so they can adapt easily to different surgical procedures and accommodate current and future surgical technologies as needed.

Hybrid Operating Rooms provide versatile solutions that save hospitals critical time and flexibility to perform open and minimally invasive cardiovascular, orthopedic spine, neurosurgical and vascular procedures in the same room; with the additional flexibility to utilize the same operating room space for open and other general purpose surgical procedures when the clinical space is not being used for complex procedures requiring use of a C-arm and specialty imaging table. Hybrid room design also provides the flexibility for speedy transformation of the hybrid room to support general surgical procedures, maximizing room use and efficiency. A full function, general purpose table can be rolled into position with full support of lights, booms, and flat panel displays; while the C-arm and imaging table are stored to a low traffic area when not in use.

An advanced hybrid room is the perfect place to perform these procedures, within a well planned and equipped hybrid surgical suite which delivers the necessary diagnostic and advanced surgical equipment at the fingertips of the clinicians, based upon high risk patient presentations and diagnosis. Philips and Skytron have teamed up to create the ideal surgical suite, tailored to specific clinical specialties. A hybrid surgical suite delivers the enhanced ability to efficiently perform both minimally invasive procedures and open surgery with the imaging support and surgical tools that the surgeon and surgical team require. The Skytron-Philips hybrid room solutions offer:

• An efficient installation process
• Optimal room layout design
• A flexible, high-resolution fixed X-ray system
• State of the art hybrid OR communications
• The latest surgical equipment

By design, hybrid solutions require the use of a C-arm and specialty imaging table, along with surgical support equipment to include surgical lights, booms, flat panel arms and displays, as well as advanced communications equipment to deliver surgical and radiological images when and where they are needed most.

Examples of complex diagnostic and surgical interventions that capitalize on hybrid room design efficiency include separate clinical specialties such as cardiology or interventional radiology and vascular surgery, collaborating within one OR to maximize and compliment efficiencies for each specialty as they work together within the same room. For instance, a patient presenting with a critical narrowing of an artery to the brain and chest, and a narrowing of the same artery in the neck can make for a very complex clinical situation. The hybrid room provides the surgical team with the necessary equipment and support to remove the plaque in the neck via endarterectomy, while the cardiology or  interventional radiology team uses the same access to go down and stent the chest. The hybrid solution saves precious time for patients and assures that they can benefit from the collaborative talents of these specialized medical disciplines.

The experienced team of Skytron and Philips can design, budget and equip the hybrid surgical suite to make the most of clinical needs and financial resources. The hybrid room solution is designed and installed efficiently, providing the optimal layout to streamline workflows and optimize throughput. Clinical staff benefit from a more tailored environment that has the potential to reduce costs, enhance patient care and shorten overall patient recovery times, reducing or eliminating the chance of having to move high risk patients from room to room.

Turn-key hybrid solutions are based upon customer preference. While the Skytron and Philips relationship is non-exclusive, the combination of Skytron's vast OR experience with Philips' expertise in interventional X-ray imaging provides for optimal turn-key solutions that reduce costs and optimize efficiencies for complete hybrid OR design and time of installation. The partnership provides broader check points and support availability to the customer with both companies collaborating and responding quickly to customer needs. Both companies have ownership of the final proposed solution vs. independently addressing issues. The hybrid solution retains combined expertise and availability to be sure that clinicians are ultimately happy regardless of whose equipment is involved.

The cutting-edge hybrid room solution allows physicians to address patient needs quickly, eliminating the hassle of scheduling additional surgical procedures. The trend is that hybrid OR solutions are becoming increasingly commonplace in contemporary healthcare facilities and new construction projects. The ability to handle and minimize high-risk situations with the most efficient treatments available to save lives is optimized in the hybrid room setting. Hybrid room design delivers optimal efficiency and clinical flexibility. A versatile design provides the use of advanced surgical equipment and diagnostic tools capable of transforming the OR from open to complex MIS procedures within the same room.

Developing a well-planned and flexible hybrid room solution provides increases utilization for patient scheduling of the room and use of equipment. Clinical staff benefit from a more tailored and intuitive environment, placing equipment solutions at their fingertips for every procedure.