Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

RE: Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

bob lehner — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 18:00:27 GMT

Yes - I see them occasionally on my travels. Also had them in my own practice - double sliding glass panels made up by the builder.

Obviously best practice not to have both the inner and outer sides open at the same time - which might cause ingress of 'dirty' air from outside into the theatre (esp. if there happened to be an an air extractor system running in the theatre creating a negative air pressure within - ideally the theatre should have air drawn inwards thro' a suitable filter system high up, creating a slight positive pressure gradient of 'clean' air in the theatre - but don't see that often).

Anything which minimises flat surfaces and general clutter in the theatre is a good thing.

RE: Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

Will McMullan — Wed, 15 Jun 2016 13:25:37 GMT

I haven't seen anything in the PSS that wouldn't allow them, and have seen them in many high spec operating theatres so presume it's not a problem. I think most of them are bespoke but my colleague has found a few companies that advertise them, although you have to ring for a quote and they want a site visit, so probably they just do bespoke set-ups too.

RE: Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

Busybee — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 21:44:44 GMT

We have them in our practice but I'm afraid I have no idea if they were bought in or specially made. They do work very well though.

We are just undertaking the PSS at present and as far as I know, it hasn't been raised as an issue.

RE: Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

Anthony Dennison — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:30:06 GMT

The new surgical building at Langford had these pass through shelves, though I admit they are in the wall between theatres which are all contained within a 'clean/sterile' area.

RE: Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

Anthony Todd — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:22:59 GMT

I think all that is meant is shelves with glass sliding doors on both sides dividing the op area from the prep area, so you can access kit from both sides and can see it easily.

Usually only one side is opened at a time so air flow through should not be possible.

I designed something like that in 1970; worked well although the shelves could have been a bit wider....

PS before MA jumps it was nineteen seventy not 1070.....!!

RE: Pass-through theatre walls/shelves

Martin Atkinson — Tue, 14 Jun 2016 13:16:06 GMT

It would be interesting to know if having open spaces allowing airflow between an ostensibly sterile theatre and a 'dirty' room would be considered good practice for practice standards and/or training practice guidelines.