The scrub is not to “break scrub” (contaminate his gown and gloves or the sterile equipment) until the patient has been taken from the room or is otherwise directed by anesthesia (according to local policy).

Thus, if an emergency such as cardiac arrest should develop, the needed equipment remains sterile and the scrub is available to assist the surgeon. The duties after surgery are given below.

a. Remove knife blades from the handles. Use a needle holder to remove a knife blade; never use your fingers. When removing the blade, point the blade floorward and away from your body. Discard in accordance with local policy.

b. Likewise, all needles and other sharps are discarded into a sharps container according to local policy.

c. The local SOP will outline the procedures for handling used instruments and basins. In general, sort the instruments in the washer-sterilizer and process them; empty the solutions from the other basins; rinse and stack the basins; and discard used sponges into the kick bucket. Then discard the linen from the Mayo table and back table after checking for instruments and other equipment and place with the linen from the patient.

NOTE: For institutions that do not have a washer-sterilizer in the OR, refer to local SOP for cleaning the instruments and sending them to CMS to be reprocessed.

d. Check the supplies for the next case and consult with the circulator concerning particular items needed for the setup.

e. Discard your surgical mask and don a fresh mask. Then proceed to scrub for the next case.

f. Assist the circulator with the cleaning and restocking of the room for the next day’s surgery if no additional cases are scheduled.