Aspects of Green Hospital Approaches with a Focus on Developing ...

surface <strong>of</strong> the operating table is s<strong>of</strong>t. Due to the fact that the patient is anesthetized she
or he is not moving during the operation at all. In this case decubitus ulcers can occur
by suppression <strong>of</strong> blood flow in the affected area just by the application <strong>of</strong> the weight
<strong>of</strong> the body part over it. Because <strong>of</strong> this, the perfusion <strong>of</strong> the tissue decreases and ischemia
occurs. With a s<strong>of</strong>tened surface <strong>of</strong> the operating table, this effect is weakened by a
better pressure distribution.
Despite the s<strong>of</strong>tness, the surface has to be sterilizable, because <strong>of</strong> the unavoidable contact
<strong>with</strong> body fluids. In fact that means, that it should have closed pores and has to <strong>with</strong>stand
alcohol containing sterilizing agents. Besides it should be durable.
Furthermore, the operation table has to provide an unfettered access to the patient and
the operating field. For this purpose it should be designed like it can be seen in Figure 1.
Here the arms <strong>of</strong> the patient are spread and easily approachable for intravenous access,
which is important for a proper anesthesia. All other parts <strong>of</strong> the patient’s body are also
accessible for agitations like ventilation, control <strong>of</strong> the vital signs or, above all, the
operation itself.
This table and all other devices should be placed in a room <strong>with</strong> restricted access and
a size <strong>of</strong> at least 25 square meters. And since medical devices can be turned into much
money on the black market, perhaps measurements <strong>of</strong> safeguarding should be considered.
This also includes items like pressurized gas cylinders or anything that could be
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Figure 1: Design <strong>of</strong> operating room and positioning <strong>of</strong> the staff [1]