LAUSR

Hypothesis / aims of study The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists supports vaginal hysterectomy as the safest and most cost effective route. While the cost-benefit ratio is favorable, there are still opportunities to optimize efficiency and contain cost. Numerous studies have highlighted the low instrument utilization within surgical trays, which results in excess processing costs and surgical case set-up time. Other risks related to excess surgical instruments include a reduction in instrument longevity from excess wearand-tear, increased risk for tray assembly errors, and unnecessary strain placed on operating suite staff from instrument tray weight. Notably, in gynecologic surgery, one study reported as few as 13% of instruments on a surgical tray were used in vaginal cases.