Problem peel pouches

[CanadianTech2]

Lately, our hospital has run into some difficulty with steam pouches. Our regular supplier of peel pouches do not make them any more and the replacements we have been shipped are less than adequate. The glue seems to be 'letting go' and creating a buckled hole at the seal which can only be seen by looking down from the top of the package. I'm afraid that these openings are being missed as close inspection of the packages seem to concentrate only on the paper side, looking for holes and such. Has anyone else experienced these problems with self-sealing peel pouches? CT

[jackjohn]

our facility hasn't had any such problems - what company/brand are the packs your having problems with ?
have you contacted your supplier or the manufacturer about this ?

[David Freeman]

I ran into this once before. In my case one of the OR nurses discovered that it was possible to unseal a processed peel pouch and then re-seal it. The vendor had changed manufacturers and was using a new glue. Talk to your vendor and insist that they provide quality product or you will find another vendor. This is usually sufficient to get some positive results.

[suesueitech]

Speaking of peel packs, it is my understanding that we are not supposed to use the paper/plastic peel pack in the wrapped sets. My hospital has been using the peel packs for the pickups for sets such as the Major Set. Someone mentioned the paper peel packs. Are these effective? Can someone give me some other alternatives?

[CanadianTech2]

In regard to jackjohn's question about the company, didn't I read that it's best not to mention brand names?

[jackjohn]

I wasn't asking you to name the companies ... it was just a way of saying 'get in touch with the supplier/manufacturer' :)

[CanadianTech2]

HELP!!!! (First, let me say that I'm just a small fish in a big sea so my voice seems to be drowned out by the sharks at my hospital!)

The first peel pouches we were supplied with were horrid. Seventy percent of the pouches would burst open from the heat, leaving a crease. My manager complained to the supplier and received a second brand. These were slightly better but not by much. Each time these pouches were introduced I would demonstate, illustate and complain about the poor quality to management. Their current 'fix' to this situation is to double pouch EVERYTHING and I quickly pointed out that 2 sub-standard pouches are not much better than one sub-standard pouch. Personally, I have been wrapping everything I can in linen or using our heat-sealer roll pouches. I refuse to use these crappy self-seal pouches as this is totally against everything I have learned as a Supply Tech.

I am not confident that we are supplying sterile items to all our clients, including the OR. I'm regarded as anal and fussy but I think it's a good thing to be in my chosen career. I've tried to convince my manager to ban the use of these pouches but I get the impression that they think it's 'good enough' just to double pouch everything. To me, this attitude in this line of work is not acceptable at all.

I'm totally alone in my dilemma as I'm the 'New Kid on the Block' . . . I'm the 'new one' that has 'that Perdue course thingy'. Any suggestions on what path to take? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, CT

PS- I've looked in the AAMI standards about peel pouches and they recommend not using regular tape on peel pouches as this type of tape will not expand properly in steam. Has anyone ever heard of using steam tape as a back-up seal for self-seal pouches?

(Oh, and to top things off, some staff are folding the inner pouches to make them fit into the next pouch size up. According to them, I'm just being fussy again . . . )

[David Freeman]

I would get my infection control practitioner involved. Let them know your concerns. Years ago I had an issue with self sealing pouches and until the issue could be resolved we sealed the pouches with sterilizer tape. I cannot see how that would be a problem.

[CanadianTech2]

No one approved of the steam tape on the peel pouch. (The proverbial excrement hit the fan.)

Now they are using the heat sealer above the self-seal area. Since this type of peel pouch is not typically made for this method of closure, is it okay? Some of the seals made by the heat sealer are letting go regardless, so we're back to square one in most cases.

[jackjohn]

like David said , I would get your infection control department involved with this ...

and I have a similar problem with staff here (CS & OR) as far as trying to get them to comply . They still fold peel pouches to fit into another pouch , still put peel pouches inside wrapped sets , and even though I've showed them what is written about these issues in the 7th edition book , they tell me 'that's the way we've always done it' and just ignore me ... very frustrating

I hope you will be able to get the bad pouch issue resolved soon :)