Table Tipping and a Near-Miss Fall After Unlocking a Surgical Table Holding a Morbidly Obese Patient

Abstract

Presented is a case report of a morbidly obese patient who experienced a near-miss fall in the operating room due to several factors. We present the importance of recognizing the change in fulcrum location on a Steris 4085 operating table when the bed is in the unlocked versus the locked position. This small change, in the presence of morbid obesity and reverse orientation of the table, can lead to an unsafe situation in which the patient's weight can cause the table to tip. We present potential ways to avoid this complication.