Skurðstofu

Skurðstofu denotes the operating room in Icelandic. The nominative form is skurðstofa, while skurðstofu is the genitive/dative form used in Icelandic phrases referring to the operating room. It is a dedicated room within a hospital where surgical procedures are performed, designed to provide a controlled and sterile environment.

The room is part of a broader surgical suite and is typically located near recovery areas. It features restricted access, quality-controlled ventilation and air exchange, stable temperature and humidity, and smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces to minimize infection risk. The layout supports a sterile field, with clearly defined zones for staff and equipment.

Equipment and setup commonly include a surgical table, overhead or shadowless lighting, patient monitoring systems, and anesthesia equipment. A range of instruments is maintained in sterile sets on tables or in instrument tables, and there are facilities for suction, electrocautery, and sometimes imaging or endoscopic devices. An adjacent instrument processing area handles sterilization of tools between cases.

Staffing consists of surgeons, anesthesiologists, scrub nurses, circulating nurses, and, in some settings, surgical technologists or support staff. Adherence to aseptic technique is essential: preoperative patient preparation, proper scrubbing and gowning, sterile draping, and meticulous instrument handling. Safety protocols commonly include the WHO surgical safety checklist and strict infection control measures.

Regulation and practice are governed by national health authorities and hospital policies. Modern skurðstofur emphasize reliability, patient safety, and integration with anesthesia, imaging, and postoperative care to support a wide range of surgical procedures, from routine operations to minimally invasive and complex surgeries.