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We had to wait until we opened a new OR a couple years ago to give LED lights a try, but it didn't take long for our surgeons and staff to realize what they'd been missing: cooler, brighter lights that produce fewer shadows and last longer than traditional bulbs. The only problem? We can't seem to upgrade the remaining rooms in our hospitals' 8-OR surgical department with LED lights quickly enough.
Test-driving LEDs
If you're installing LED lights in a new or existing OR, the best way to determine if this new technology is worth the added expense over traditional incandescent-bulb lighting is to bring it in for a test drive. It's not enough to see LEDs on the show floor or even at another facility. De-install your current units in one of your ORs, install the trial LEDs and have your surgeons and staff take turns operating under them for a time.
When we were first looking at these lights for our new OR, only 1 company was making them for the surgical suite. Now there are several companies that make surgical LED lights, so you should bring in multiple vendors, have them install their systems and let the surgical team trial each one. Design the trial to last as long as necessary to ensure representatives from all specialties in your facility get a chance to operate under the lights and register their opinions. Surgeons and staff identified several compelling benefits of LEDs:
- No shadowing. The best feature we discovered was the way the light-emitting diodes illuminate the surgical site. Our 28-bulb, multi-reflector LED units emit a bright, powerful white light without the shadowing you get with traditional lights. LEDs also have a really large light span, which lets the surgeon see the surgical site in the best detail. These lights are particularly ideal for complex cases that require a large field of vision, such as open abdominal cases, joint repair and spine procedures.
- Less heat. Hold your hand under regular surgical lights for a minute or so. Now hold your hand under LED lights. Notice anything? LED lights emit virtually no heat, which is a bonus for the staff who have to work under the lights for hours each day.
- Energy savings. LED lights also use less energy than traditional lights and last much longer. Instead of having to replace traditional bulbs every month or so, LED bulbs can have a lifespan of as long as 10 years, according to our manufacturer. (We haven't had to change them yet in the 2 years since we installed them.) Over the long term you can save a considerable amount of money in replacement bulbs and energy costs by switching to LEDs. And by reducing your carbon footprint and generating less landfill waste, they're better for the environment as well as your bottom line.
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How About LED Headlights? |
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The advantages of LED surgical headlights over the 2 traditional options — halogen and xenon — are similar to the advantages of overhead LEDs vs. incandescent bulbs. Sanford M. Archer, MD, FACS, of the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center in Lexington, recently took an LED headlight model for an informal trial run and says LEDs use less power and can run for longer than halogen and xenon bulbs. The battery-powered model he trialed claims to have a 14-hour, low-intensity capacity and a 4-hour, high-intensity capacity. "I used it on high intensity for 3 to 4 hours and it wasn't dimming at all," says Dr. Archer, professor of surgery and pediatrics in the university's division of otolaryngology. Both the headlight itself and its battery pack, which can be clipped to the surgeon's waist, are very lightweight and comfortable, says Dr. Archer. "There's no heat involved," he adds, so LEDs eliminate the discomfort of operating under hot lights. In addition to their comfort and energy efficiency, Dr. Archer says LEDs are bright enough to illuminate the surgical sites of the nasal and oral procedures he performs. Although they're not as bright as xenon bulbs, LEDs are very "true to color," he notes, meaning when the light shines on flesh, it looks flesh-toned. "The only way to really be comfortable with the headlight you purchase is to do a trial," says Dr. Archer, who recommends you bring in all the options you're considering and compare them, side-by-side, to determine which system your surgeons like best, since they're the ones who are going to be wearing them and operating with them. Price is obviously another consideration, and he suggests that LEDs can be a cheaper option than xenon because the light and battery are sold together; you don't have to purchase a separate light box. Finally, Dr. Archer says you should look for a company that provides excellent and timely service on their lights. — Irene Tsikitas |
The whole package
Another advantage of the LED lights we trialed was the added bells and whistles that were available as part of a larger, integrated OR package. The LED unit has an in-light camera system that records and transmits a real-time, high-definition view of the surgical site to video monitors on our booms and a large, LCD monitor mounted on the wall. The in-light camera serves as an extra set of eyes for residents or vendor reps assisting with the procedure; we can also route the images outside of the OR for teaching or review purposes.
The lighting system is also connected to a centralized, voice-activated control system that works with other key pieces of equipment in the room. Instead of pausing to ask the circulating nurse to adjust the lights, the surgeon can command the lights to automatically dim or brighten as needed by speaking into a microphone attached to his lapel. This frees the circulating nurse to focus on her duties while letting the surgeon get the optimal lighting without interrupting the flow of the procedure. There's also a separate control panel for the lights located on the wall by the nurse's station, so the surgical team has the option of using the manual or voice-activated controls.
Justifying the cost
Equipment experts say LEDs can cost as much as 20% to 30% more than traditional surgical lights. As with any major capital equipment purchase, you'll need to do a cost-benefit analysis, taking into account what your budget can afford and whether the potential benefits of LEDs outweigh their higher cost. Consider your facility's case mix; the need for brighter lighting is less profound during minimally invasive procedures, for example, when the lights are often dimmed to let the surgeon focus on a video screen. Also factor in the potential cost savings associated with the greater longevity and energy efficiency of LED lights compared to traditional bulbs. Finally, explore how the new lights will integrate with the rest of the OR equipment. You may be able to get a better deal by purchasing LEDs as part of a larger package that includes booms and HD video equipment.
Once we got our new OR up and running, it was clear that we'd never go back to traditional incandescent bulbs. We're hoping to outfit our other 7 ORs with LEDs over the next few years. In the meantime, our biggest challenge is keeping surgeons and staff from fighting over who gets to work in the LED-lit room.
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