Fundamentals of Operating Room Setup and Surgical Instrumentation

The focus of this chapter will be to introduce the general principles of how operating rooms are designed in order to provide surgical interventions that improve patients’ lives. Although the basic operating room design was first heralded in the nineteenth century, today’s advances have introduced complex surgical equipment that necessitates integration in a fixed space. Moreover, in order to be able to effectively and efficiently carry out a surgical procedure, a highly reliable interdisciplinary and integrated team is necessary. This chapter will provide the reader with a basic overview of the operating room, the key players that work in this environment, and the commonly utilized equipment and instruments.