In the November/December 2016 issue of Surgical Products, the winners of this year’s Excellence In Surgical Products (ESP) Awards are revealed.
Day by day, we’ll also share the results here, along with an expanded version of the Surgical Products Q&A that accompanied each winner.
Category: TABLES AND POSITIONING
DA Surgical ArmGuard Patient Arm Restraint
Why do you think readers were interested in learning more about the product?
Nurses are seeking safer and more effective alternatives than tucking arms for supine surgical procedures. ArmGuard has been recognized as meeting and exceeding those requirements.
AORN guidelines for patient positioning voice concern regarding tucking arms stating, “When a patient’s arms are tucked tightly at his or her side with sheets, it may add unnecessary pressure on the tucked arms and may lead to tissue injury and ischemia.” The guidelines suggest that “Unless necessary for surgical reasons, the patient’s arms should not be tucked at his or her sides when in the supine position.”
(Image credit: DA Surgical)
How does this product benefit the surgical team and aid in better outcomes?
ArmGuard technology provides positioning and safety benefits on several levels that were heretofore unavailable. The device improves efficiencies by being easier, faster, and safer to use than tucking arms. The versatile technology easily accommodates and adapts to the broadest range of patient sizes and table configurations. The low profile rail mounted sleds do not interfere with robotic arms and may be used to assist in stabilizing patients in airplane tilt.
Improved outcomes are the result of the device eliminating undue compression that contributes to tissue injury and neuropathy.
What technical innovations does the product encapsulate and apply to the OR?
The exclusive arm enclosure is the only technology that can provide immediate intraprocedural visualization and open access to lines and ports at all times without having to disturb the restraint. This makes it a favorite of anesthesia providers and OR nurses. The rail mounted sled offers ergonomic and procedural efficiencies that allow the technology to be used for a broader range of surgical procedures on a full range of table configurations while accommodating the greatest range of patient shapes and sizes.
