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Education Spotlight
Insights, stories, and surgical skill-building from real professionals.
A ChloraPrep Recall Is Bigger Than One Product: What OR Teams Should Understand About Downstream Recalls
When a recalled component is already inside a kit, finding it becomes an operations problem—not simply a shelf check. What happens when the recalled product isn’t sitting on the shelf by itself—but is already packed inside your procedure kits? That is the larger lesson emerging from recent actions involving BD ChloraPrep products and Medline convenience kits. In June 2026, BD recalled specific lots of ChloraPrep Clear 1 mL and FREPP Clear 1.5 mL applicators because of potenti
Mastering Operating Room Etiquette: A Guide for Newcomers
Operating rooms have their own unique culture and set of expectations, with etiquette that every team member should know, especially newcomers. Respecting this environment isn’t just about following protocols—it’s about contributing to a safe and efficient space for everyone. First, recognize the roles of the circulating nurse and surgical tech. These are the people who keep the OR running smoothly. Introduce yourself, communicate your needs, and respect their expertise. A sm
Medline Bed Safety Alert: Why Fire and Entrapment Risks Deserve Attention
A hospital bed may seem like one of the most familiar pieces of equipment in healthcare. But familiar doesn't always mean risk-free. A recent FDA early alert involving Medline-branded beds and accessories highlights two serious concerns: electrical overheating and patient entrapment. What Happened? In October 2026, Medline announced a field safety action affecting all Medline Brand beds and associated components, including homecare, bariatric, and long-term-care beds, pendant
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
9 hours ago2 min read
StatStrip Glucose Meter Update: The Result May Be Accurate—but Assigned to the Wrong Patient
What if a glucose reading is accurate, but the result ends up in the wrong patient's medical record? That's the concern behind a Nova Biomedical StatStrip glucose meter correction—and the FDA has clarified what affected facilities should do while awaiting a software update. What Happened? The FDA issued a Class I recall communication on October 20, 2026, and updated its guidance on October 30. The correction affects the StatStrip Glucose Hospital Meter Gen 2.0, models 63685 a
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
1 day ago2 min read
PENTAX Ultrasound Endoscope Update: Why Water-Bottle Instructions Matter
Sometimes an important medical device recall doesn't involve removing equipment. It involves changing how the equipment is prepared and used. That's the lesson behind a recent PENTAX Medical field safety notice affecting certain ultrasound endoscopes and their water-bottle assemblies. What Happened? In September 2026, PENTAX Medical initiated a correction involving several ultrasound endoscope models and the OS-H5 water-bottle assembly. The FDA posted Class II recall records
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
2 days ago2 min read
Stryker Navigation Pointer Recall: What If an Instrument Fractures Inside the Patient?
A surgical navigation instrument is designed to help teams work with precision. But what happens when the instrument itself becomes a safety concern? A recent Stryker recall highlights why even small components of sophisticated surgical systems deserve attention. What Happened? On September 24, 2026, Stryker initiated a recall involving a specific lot of its Precision Pointer Electromagnetic navigation instrument. The FDA posted the Class II recall on October 29. The affected
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
3 days ago2 min read
STERIS Plans to Acquire Xodus Medical: Why the Pink Pad Deal Matters Beyond the Boardroom
A $2.1 billion acquisition might sound like business news. But this one involves products surgical professionals use every day. On October 12, 2026, STERIS announced an agreement to acquire Xodus Medical, a company known for surgical patient-positioning and safety products. For the Love of Surgery, the more interesting question isn't simply how much the deal costs. It's what this could mean for the operating room. What Happened? STERIS announced that it had entered into a def
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
4 days ago3 min read
Medtronic Navigation Recall: When the System Can't Reliably Track Its Instruments
What happens when surgical navigation technology has difficulty detecting the very instruments it's supposed to track? A 2026 Medtronic recall highlights why small components can have an important role in sophisticated surgical systems. What Happened? Medtronic Navigation initiated a recall on August 31, 2026, involving certain sterile passive navigation spheres and biopsy needle kits. The FDA posted Class II recall records on October 16. According to the agency, variations i
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
5 days ago2 min read
Edwards Mitral-Valve Delivery Alert: When a Balloon Bursts During Deployment
A minimally invasive heart-valve procedure depends on sophisticated technology. But what happens when part of the delivery system fails? An October 2026 FDA early alert involving Edwards Lifesciences raises that question. What Happened? On October 15, 2026, the FDA posted an early alert concerning certain Commander M delivery systems used with the SAPIEN M3 Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement System. The alert identified four affected lots: 67718561, 67804014, 67887043, an
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
6 days ago2 min read
Grafton Bone Graft Recall: When Donor Screening Raises Questions After Processing
What happens when a bone graft passes finished-product sterility testing, but a later donor-record review identifies a concern? That's the issue behind a 2026 Medtronic recall involving certain Grafton demineralized bone matrix products. What Happened? Medtronic initiated a recall on August 12, 2026, involving specific Grafton Orthoblend and Grafton Paste products. The FDA posted the Class II recall records on October 9. According to the FDA, a donor-record review found that
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Nov 42 min read
A “Latex-Free” Laparoscopy Pack Contained Latex. Here's Why That Matters.
When a surgical pack is labeled “latex-free,” the OR team should be able to trust that label. A recent FDA recall raises questions about what happens when the contents of a surgical kit don't match the information printed on its packaging. What Happened? On August 26, 2026, GRI Medical & Electronic Technology initiated a recall involving certain HALYARD Laparoscopy Comprehensive Pack II kits. The FDA posted the Class II recall on October 2. According to the agency, the packs
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Nov 32 min read
Beach-Chair Headrest Recall: Why Patient Positioning Equipment Deserves a Second Look
What happens when the equipment supporting a patient's head fails during surgery? A 2026 recall involving the ADAPTABLE Beach Chair surgical positioner highlights an important reality: patient positioning equipment is part of the surgical safety system. What Happened? Quantum OPS initiated a recall on July 24, 2026, involving certain ADAPTABLE Beach Chair positioning systems distributed under Enovis and Stryker product numbers. The FDA posted the Class II recall on October 2.
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Nov 22 min read
A Surgeon Operated From 35 Miles Away. But Who Was in the OR With the Patient?
A surgeon in one hospital. A patient in another. And a robotic system connecting them. On October 25, 2026, a surgical team in Florida reached an important milestone in robotic telesurgery. Dr. Vipul Patel performed a prostatectomy while operating from AdventHealth Celebration. His patient, a 66-year-old man diagnosed with prostate cancer, was approximately 35 miles away at AdventHealth Minneola. According to AdventHealth, this was the first reported robotic telesurgery proce
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Nov 23 min read
STERIS Biological Indicator Recall: What Happens When a Sterilization Test Gives False Reassurance?
What happens when the test designed to confirm sterilization effectiveness may give a misleading result? That's the concern behind a 2026 STERIS recall involving certain VERIFY biological indicators and steam sterilization test packs. And for surgical professionals, the lesson extends well beyond the products themselves. What Happened? On August 31, 2026, STERIS began notifying customers about affected products. The FDA posted Class II recall records on October 2. The concern
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Nov 12 min read
False Eyelashes Were Found in a Surgical Tray. But That's Not the Most Concerning Part.
False eyelashes. Rust. Debris. All reportedly discovered in a surgical instrument tray opened for a craniotomy at Los Robles Regional Medical Center in California. According to findings from a California Department of Public Health investigation, the physician declined to wait for a replacement tray and the procedure proceeded. That's the detail most likely to become the headline. But surgical professionals need to keep reading. Because according to the state investigation, t
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 276 min read
The OR Turnover Clock Is Not a Disinfectant Timer
Five cases are booked back to back. The next patient is ready. An add-on is waiting. Everyone can feel the pressure to turn the room faster. That pressure does not make disinfectant work faster. It can, however, make incomplete cleaning look normal. A recent infection-prevention review identified predictable gaps during rushed operating-room turnovers: missed surfaces, insufficient wet contact time, premature restocking, inconsistent clean-to-dirty sequencing and one wipe bei
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 203 min read
The Recall After the Box Is Gone
FDA has classified Boston Scientific's removal of Imager II Angiographic Catheters as a Class I recall, its most serious category. A manufacturing problem may allow the catheter tip to degrade and detach inside the vasculature. Boston Scientific has also decided to discontinue the product. For vascular and interventional teams, this is both an immediate inventory action and a longer-term product transition. It also exposes a familiar traceability problem: the outer box may be
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 173 min read
Before Telesurgery Comes to Your OR Who Owns the Backup Plan
On September 24, 2026, FDA released draft guidance for premarket submissions involving certain robotically assisted surgical devices. The document addresses recommended nonclinical testing, clinical data and labeling intended to support consistent review of these systems. The guidance is not final and does not authorize remote surgery in the United States. But its arrival alongside growing international experience with telesurgery makes one thing clear: the conversation is mo
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 143 min read
A Recall Does Not Always Mean Stop Using It
The FDA has classified Abiomed's removal of Automated Impella Controllers as its most serious recall type after purge-system component failures were associated with 37 serious injuries and three deaths. Yet hospitals may continue using their controllers while waiting for service. That combination can sound contradictory: a Class I recall, a phased global removal and continued clinical use. It is also an important lesson for surgical and procedural teams. A recall does not alw
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 113 min read
Two Perioperative Drug Recalls Every Surgical Team Should Check Today
Two nationwide recalls published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on September 21, 2026 should be on the radar of every anesthesia department, hospital pharmacy and procedural area. One involves a bag labeled as 0.9% sodium chloride that may actually contain concentrated potassium chloride. The other involves premixed dexmedetomidine containing particulate matter. The products, hazards and corrective actions are different. The shared lesson is not: "be more careful."
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 83 min read
A Robotic Surgical Stapler Was Recalled. Here's the OR Lesson Beyond the Headline.
When a surgical device recall makes national news, most people see the product. Surgical professionals see the system behind it. In 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration classified a recall involving certain Intuitive Surgical 8mm SureForm 30 Gray Reloads as Class I—the FDA's most serious recall classification. According to the FDA, the issue involved the potential for incomplete staple lines after the robotic surgical system indicated that a stapler fire had been compl
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 53 min read
When Surgical Robots Have Cybersecurity Risks: The New Safety Conversation Entering the OR
Connected surgical technology is expanding the definition of equipment readiness. We check instruments for damage. But what does a safety check look like when the vulnerability is software? That question is becoming increasingly relevant as operating rooms become more connected and software-dependent. The FDA currently lists a Class II recall involving two U.S. Versius Surgical System surgeon consoles manufactured by CMR Surgical. According to the FDA recall record, Secure Bo
Tatyana L., CST, CCS
Oct 22 min read
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