Cleanability of hybrid laparoscopic instruments.

An experiment was conducted to determine if hybrid laparoscopic instruments could be cleaned effectively before sterilization. A cleaning protocol that used materials readily available to perioperative cleaning personnel was established and implemented. Test instruments were soiled under pressure with defibrinated sheep's blood to simulate an abdominal laparoscopic surgical procedure (ie, by creating a pneumoperitoneum). After being cleaned according to the protocol, visual and optical inspections of the instruments indicated that all were free of visible soil. It was concluded that a hybrid laparoscopic instrument system can be cleaned satisfactorily before sterilization.