Proper sterilization approach for sterling silver material

[Alice Kuo]

Here we have a lucky plastic surgery physician who got a
dinner knife as a gift to congratulate his success in board
exam. He found its design perfect for surgery procedures.

I was challenged that whether the Tiffany's dinner knife is
available to go through any sterilization? What would you deal
with such kind of special request? The material of dinner
knife is confirmed as sterling silver.

[Harvey Johnson]

You are kidding, right??
"Ol lucky going at it with a dinner knife sounds like a scene from Scary Movie 6 or 7.
Or, just ask for specific sterilization instructions from the manufacturer.....:)

[Alice Kuo]

I'm pretty agree with you that the plastic surgeon might be joking,
but I'm curious about how we should deal with the sterling silver
material in sterilization as well.

According to the user's description, the Tiffany's dinner knife is
just perfect for being a skin graft knife. The assumption could be
possible, because the dinner knife is for fish slitting. It could be
applied to soft skin tissue if they are acceptable to users.

Surgical instruments are originally designed as tools for medical
procedures.In theory any item from any material could be
applied. We CS technicians are challenged too many times, aren't
we? Purely simply want to gain more understanding of sterilization.

[sonny1388]

The problem here is not whether or not the item can be sterilized, almost any item can be sterilized in one way or another. The problem here is the burden of validating that normal sterilization cycles will sterilize this item. Without that validation and recommendation of which cycle to use, you are using the item off label, where you as the user becomes responsible and reliable for any malfuntion or contamination of the item. Meaning when the patient sues because the knife broke in the case, you end up paying for it rather than the manufacturer of the item. Furthermore, you as the person who put the item through the sterilizer without the manufacturer's instructions can be personally held responsible, and nobody wants that!

[Harvey Johnson]

My apologies if I sounded flippant, I guess the initial thought of a tiffany knife in the surgical suite to me was comical, (even if it is a fillet or boning knife).
I'm not a metals expert, but isn't sterling silver a softer metal than surgical steel? This might present a problem down the road.
In order to cover my bases, if the surgeon is serious, I would recite the industry policy of requiring manufacturer's (Tiffany's) written instructions for sterilization before proceeding. That will probably bring the issue to a close.

[Alice Kuo]

Hey dear pals,
Please don't take it personal, your response is exactely same as my first reaction.Thanks for reminding our initial goal in sterilization...." Infection
Control". I will keep it in mind whenever I meet similar challange. Here is
also the material reply from Tiffany & Co.
-----------------------
Dear Ms Kuo,

I am do not understand your material count of 300 or 400, our blade is
stainless steel 18% Chromium and 10% Nickel added to Iron and the handle
is Sterling Silver. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,
Margaret Jack
Sales Professional
NY Home Collections
Phone 212-605-4009
Fax 212-605-4611
------------------------
It sounds a pretty nice service attitude to me. Well, learn another lesson!!

[Alice Kuo]

Hi dear pals,
just a simple conclusion of dinner knife scary shock here.
the surgeon is appreciated to all our discussions and effort.
the truth is he didn't realize that any unconscious appointment
could cause the whole central sterilie supply department
up side down. Thanks for help and please do feel proud of
being an excellent supporter to all customers.