The best theatre size for different surgeries

The 2014 Facility Guidelines Institute (FGI) guidelines include a method to calculate the minimum size of operating theatres (OTs).1 However, the rationale behind the guidelines has not been clarified. The purpose of this study was to create a universal model for the design and structure of operating theatres. Our major assumption was that OT size can be calculated by adding together the areas occupied by medical equipment, healthcare workers, and their traffic pathway. The area designated to healthcare workers was set as a circle with a 2 m diameter, compatible with a human’s height according to the ancient model of the ideal human body. The remnant corners of the 2 m2 outside of the circle were designated to the traffic space. Routinely used medical equipment was included in the model beforehand, together with the operating table, part of which was included later as being within the patient’s area. The shape of the OT was set as square as possible. Ordinary surgery was considered to be performed by a surgeon, first/second assistants, an anaesthesiologist/assistant, and an assistant/circulating nurse. 

Questionnaire issued

Using our model, the proposed sizes of OTs measured 36, 48, 64, 80, 90 and 100 m2 for the minimum OT, standard OT, ideal OT, OT for cardiac surgery, OT for specific surgery, and OT for multisubspecialty surgery, respectively. In the next stage of our research, the proposed model was evaluated through contact with the operating theatre directors at national university hospitals nationwide. We sent them a questionnaire to determine their satisfaction with the size of theatres presently used for 13 representative types of surgery.