Single Use Instruments in UK Have Multiple Advantages

I did my first nanolaser cataract surgery five years ago. We were able to perform the first all Single Use Instruments cataract surgery in UK thanks to this innovative technology and a change to configurable single-use procedure packs with all the necessary tools.

The Usage of Reusable vs Single Use Instruments

The usage of reusable vs Single Use Instruments in UK (SUIs) and the arguments for and against the changeover has been hotly contested. Quality, sterility, and efficacy of the instruments are frequently questioned factors; yet, after testing SUIs in clinical settings, numerous surgeons confirm their accuracy, safety, and dependability. Single Use Instruments don't require further processing or sterilization. By doing this, you monopolize a lot fewer staff resources and enable a quicker, more fluid, and ultimately more efficient surgical process. SUIs that more successfully avoid the cross-contamination that is possible with reusable instruments have been developed thanks to technological advancements. Due to advancements in manufacturing techniques, SUIs are now accessible for regular usage. Patients who undergo SUIs feel more secure since they are aware that the tools being used have never been near another eye.

Single Use Instruments provide the best possible protection against infection in every surgery due to growing concerns over poor tool sterilization and the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. Now that they are widely accessible and due to improvements in surgical technology as well as an aging population, it may be time to switch.

My Progress Toward Single Use Instruments in UK

We execute up to 200 procedures every month in my private practice. They include ICL, refractive lens exchange, cataract surgery, laser operations, corneal and retinal surgery, and cosmetic eyelid surgery. I had been utilizing reusable tools, but a lot has changed since 2019. A whole set of Single Use Instruments (SUIs) for all of our nanolaser processes might now be created thanks to the development of nanolasers with disposable handpieces. It was a long-needed breakthrough that fundamentally changed the way we interacted with our patients.

SUIs are consistent with how the majority of patients perceive cleanliness and infection control in contemporary practice. Our patients frequently believe we employ SUIs and are taken aback when we don't. If I were the patient getting a procedure done, I would want the same thing. Speaking to patients about SUIs transforms a minor technical problem into a selling point for the practice, which has also shown to be very beneficial in the patients' eye care hygiene routines.

Key things to keep in mind with Single Use Instruments

I nearly always choose SUIs while performing cataract surgeries, which is the most frequent procedure we conduct. Because the handpiece is reusable when utilizing the conventional phacoemulsification technique, it has to be properly sterilized and reprocessed. Our patients now choose to combine the more delicate surgical technique of the nanolaser with sanitary SUIs. From the year 2019, 75% of our patients have opted for laser surgery using SUIs instead of using traditional reusable equipment. My patients believe that SUIs are cleaner, and that cleaner procedures are always safer.

Full-SUI procedures have allowed us to schedule surgery with considerably more freedom and without having to worry about cumbersome sterilizing rounds. Reprocessing instruments requires a far less team, freeing up our highly skilled employees for other tasks.

The effective sterilization of reusable tools

It is crucial to ensure the effective sterilization of reusable tools, which requires a multi-step process that takes a lot of time and extra money to replace any instruments that are damaged during decontamination. The majority of these issues have been resolved by SUIs by providing a straightforward, one-time fix. Also, we now have tailored SUIs packs for each surgical treatment, eliminating the need to set up and gather tools for each one. This has boosted the safety and adaptability of the procedures I do.

I explain that switching to SUIs is as easy as changing your clothes when people enquire about it. It was quick and simple to move from reusable instruments to Single Use Instruments. After evaluating several vendors to make an appropriate and cost-effective decision, we discovered that BVI's high-quality SUIs provide versatility and dependability in the design of the procedure sets. The tools are comparable to their reusable counterparts, and in certain situations (like the lens manipulator and eyelid retractor) the SUI equivalents are even superior. The Kuglen hook is one of my go-to tools. I use it for all intraocular manipulations, including IOL rotation, iris refraction, and more, as well as being my go-to nucleus manipulator. SUIs usually give me the impression that I am using a brand-new instrument with no wear or damage, therefore at this stage, I feel much more at ease using them than reusable ones.

Hygienic Conditions:

Ask your patients what they would like and if they would be ready to pay more for more hygienic conditions and safety. These are issues that my patients have always been extremely clear about. Since I moved to SUIs two years ago in response to my patients' desires, I only utilize them for cataract surgery at this time because that is the most frequent procedure at our clinic. As much as I would like to, there are currently no alternatives for single-use ICL loading forceps, making it impossible for me to convert my ICL operations to SUIs. ICL implants are the fastest-growing segment of refractive surgery, hence my first pick for a new product would be an SUI set for ICL implants.