When Do I Need to Consider a Sealed Surgical Case Cart?

Surgical case carts are essential in medical settings for organizing, storing, and transporting surgical instruments and supplies to and from the Sterile Processing Department (SPD) to the Operating Room (OR). They are designed to help maintain sterility and streamline surgical case setups, ensuring that everything needed for a procedure is readily accessible. Proper utilization of surgical case carts for your healthcare facility can significantly improve the efficiency of your OR turnovers and SPD. 

Pedigo’s RCC-242 closed cart

When you are shopping for new surgical case carts, when should you consider a sealed cart? This article will go over the factors to consider when you are shopping for surgical case carts.

Understanding Sealed v Closed Case Carts

What are the differences between sealed versus closed surgical case carts? The decipherable difference between the two are the inner seals around the cart’s doors. 

Closed Case Carts

Closed case carts feature enclosed compartments with secure doors, providing enhanced protection for the contents inside. When compared with an open case cart, the closed cart provides further sterility maintenance. 

Pedigo’s rev•o•lu•tion™ closed case cart is the first closed case cart to feature polycarbonate scratch-resistant windows. This innovative cart allows staff to view the contents within the cart while providing improved defense against contamination and leakage of biohazardous substances. 

Sealed Case Carts

Sealed case carts take the concept of closed case carts a step further by incorporating environmental seals around their compartments. Sealed case carts provide the highest level of protection against contamination and spillage of biohazard material which make them ideal for off-site sterile processing.

The Pedigo sealed case cart line features a full seal around the perimeter of the doors providing an added level of 

Full seal inside the perimeter of
the door for enhanced protection

protection against outside contaminants. In addition, these carts are built to STERIL-GARD specifications. STERIL-GARD is the concept and process of manufacturing products to minimize or eliminate any areas where dirt, fluid and bacterial debris can become trapped, ultimately improving the cleaning process of surgical case carts. 

Considerations When Choosing Which Cart is Best for Your Facility 

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding what type of surgical case cart is best for your facility and staff. A primary factor to consider is what cart do you need to maintain compliance with infection control standards. 

Off-site Sterile Processing Department 

Does your facility utilize an off-site SPD? Sealed case carts are often used when sterile processing is conducted off-site from the healthcare facility where the surgical cases are taking place. This is due to its superior protection against contamination and spillage of biohazard materials. 

Transportation and Logistics

Consider the path of your cart from the OR to your SPD. Depending on your facility, you may be transporting sterile case carts via a path that will expose it to unwanted biohazards. 

Environmental Factors

When transporting your carts, consider the environmental factors. Areas with high humidity can cause condensation inside the cart and effectively desterilize the cart’s contents. Use of a sealed cart can help to mitigate environmental risks. 

Compliance with Infection Control Standards

With the path of your cart in mind, consider the compliance to standards that you have to meet. The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation, ANSI/AAMI ST79 6.4 clearly states expectations: “Contaminated items should be contained during their transport from the point of use to the decontamination area. …Containers, devices, or carts must be marked with a biohazard label or other means of identifying contaminated contents.” To further support infection control compliance, Pedigo has integrated easy-to-use biohazard indicators into our carts.

At the end of the day, staying compliant with infection control standards is critical. Our knowledgeable staff can help identify the standards to meet and assist in choosing the right cart solution for you. 

Pedigo Products: The Trusted Case Cart Manufacturer

If you have an off-site SPD, require enhanced sterility protection, or are transporting your carts over-the-road, you should consider opting for a sealed case cart. Built to STERIL-GARD specifications, Pedigo’s fully welded sealed carts are constructed for superior protection. With over 75 years of experience, we’ve helped countless customers select the perfect surgical case cart for their facility and staff. Contact your local rep today for expert advice and assistance in finding the right cart for your needs. 

Check out Pedigo’s Guide to Case Carts.