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Dec 01, 2023

Designing future-proof ORs

The requirements for healthcare infrastructures are changing. At times the goals seem to work against each other. Improving one may cause the other to worsen. The goals of advancing sustainability while improving indoor air quality exemplifies this dilemma. The importance of clean air was highlighted by the pandemic, however obtaining cleaner air often requires a higher energy use. Can cleaner air be achieved while simultaneously reducing energy consumption and lower CO2 footprint?  

We will guide you through the different modes you can run Opragon in. If the procedure is less sensitive to infection, the airflow can be reduced with up to 50% – a true sustainable option when it comes to flexibility between highest level of hygiene and lowest energy consumption. 

Designing future-proof ORs  

An independent study conducted by the Dutch company Maximuse showed that the Opragon was more than capable of meeting air quality requirements for general surgery at airflow levels down to 50% of the airflow required for ultra-clean conditions. 

To reduce the risk for Surgical Site Infections (SSI) the number of micro-organisms in the room needs to be minimized. A controlled ultra-clean environment is required for surgery susceptible to infections, such as orthopedic surgery. For less infection-sensitive surgical procedures, a lower level of airflow will maintain acceptable conditions while at the same time optimizing energy use.  

What if hospitals could install the same ventilation system across all operating rooms and run the system in different modes?  Such a design would meet the requirements of the highest classification for infection sensitive surgery when required, while during general surgery the system could be run with lower airflow. We estimate that if 50% of surgeries are performed with 50% of the airflow, the carbon footprint will be measureably lower. This would enable institutions to meet the highest standard for operating room cleanliness while optimizing energy expenditure.  

Air flow rates in operating rooms equipped with Opragon can be easily adjusted to the type of surgery, conserving energy during lower risk procedures. When conditions change, such as a need for infection sensitive surgery or a viral outbreak, the ultra-clean mode of Opragon will add safety. To ensure that ORs are futureproof, and ready to handle any kind of challenges including anti-microbial resistance, it is smart to design ORs with the ability to switch between higher and lower airflow depending upon SSI risk. Only Temperature-controlled AirFlow (TcAF) can offer both modes, while also adding a stand-by mode with even less airflow when unoccupied. 

Contact us for more information about the performance of Opragon at 20, 25, 30 and 40 air changes per hour (ACH).