Megasoft® Return Electrode for Surgical Procedures

Designed for safety, patient care and comfort, Mega Soft replaces previous technology where the electric current leaves the patient via a disposable single-use patient return electrode which is attached directly to the patient’s skin via a ‘sticky surface.’

With Mega Soft the patient return electrode is incorporated into a padded layer on which the patient lies during surgery. The patient is simply placed on the pad prior to surgery, there are no adhesives used on the skin. It is also environmentally friendly, as it is completely reusable.

The NICE guidance advises that the Mega Soft Patient Return Electrode may offer particular advantages for selected patients, such as those who would require shaving for application of disposable electrode pads and those with fragile or damaged skin. In addition, the device may benefit operating theatre staff in terms of increased convenience and reduced setting up time. The economic considerations show that cost/resource requirements are similar to current practice. However, expert advice suggested that the resource consequences of the Mega Soft Patient Return Electrode are greatly influenced by the circumstances in which it is used. A full report can be found at http://guidance.nice.org.uk/MTG11/Guidance/pdf/English.

”Placing and removing adhesive backed return electrodes pads is particularly challenging with neonates and elderly patients due to their very fragile skin,” added Hintze. “Mega Soft more evenly distributes pressure, further protecting the patient from the risk of skin breakdown and pressure ulcers.”

NICE, first began to evaluate the technology in September 2011. Positive guidance from the London-based agency helps speed the adoption of new treatments across the 168 NHS hospital trusts in England. The Mega Soft electrode reusable mats cost 1,900 pounds ($3,000) each and can be used for as long as 24 months. The Medical Technologies Advisory Committee has considered the evidence submitted and the views of expert advisers.

”With more than 45 million Mega Soft-assisted procedures with zero pad-site burns1, patient safety remains a top delivery priority,” said Melissa Fischer, RN, MSN, CNOR, Clinical Specialist and Marketing Product Manager at Megadyne. ”The reusable Mega Soft can easily replace thousands of disposable sticky-pad electrodes enabling hospitals and surgical centers to offer excellent patient care while2 preventing excessive waste.”
Benefits3 of the Mega Soft compared to small adhesive pads are:

Easy to set-up No shaving or searching for an adequate patient pad site

Safer than the sticky-style monitoring pads

Kinder to the patient. NO adhesive-related skin irritations and all the benefits of a pressure reduction pad

Save Money. The reusable pad reduces cost per procedure–up to a 70% savings

Sized to fit an O.R. table, bassinet or isolette

Compatible with most isolated electrosurgical generators

Environmentally friendly-eliminates the waste of the disposable ”sticky” pad

Radiolucent and latex-free

Hold harmless guarantee against pad site burns

Surgical Centers are constantly seeking ways to cut costs without cutting corners. Reusable products continue to gain in popularity because of the direct bottom line savings following the initial investment.

1 Benefits, cost savings and procedure estimates are based on Megadyne’s company sales and surveillance data, and marketing information, and are not from the NICE guidance.
2 As for footnote 1 above
3 As for footnote 1 above