Mayo Stand Set Up and Back Table Preparation: A Practical Guide

Before you start: equipment and protocol checks

Confirm the procedure, the surgeon's preference card and the instrument sets required. Check that the Mayo stand and back table are clean, dry and in working order: wheels turn, brakes lock, and the height adjustment works through its range. With an electric stand such as the Lojer electric Mayo table, test the foot control that raises and lowers the worktop.

This article gives a general sequence. Always follow your hospital's policy and the surgeon's preference card; local protocols override any general guide, and training should be supervised.

Positioning the tables

Place the back table behind or beside the scrub nurse, away from traffic, with enough room to turn without touching non-sterile surfaces. Position the Mayo stand so that its tray will sit over the patient's lower body or beside the operating table, within the nurse's and surgeon's reach but clear of anaesthesia access and the C-arm path.

Lock the brakes. If the stand has a rotating worktop, as on the Lojer electric Mayo table where it turns 45, 90 and 180 degrees both ways, set the angle that suits the case before draping.

Draping the back table and the Mayo stand

Open the sterile table cover without touching the inner surface, unfold it so that the sterile side faces up and the cuffs protect the hands, and place it with a confident movement so that it covers the whole top. Keep the edges well away from the floor and avoid reaching across the sterile surface. Use the same principle for the Mayo stand drape, a sterile cover that slides over the tray and stand and is secured according to the supplier's instructions.

Once a table is draped, only the sterile team may touch it, and its sterile area is the top surface only. Anything that falls below table level is considered non-sterile.

• Open the cover without touching the inner side
• Place with controlled movements to avoid contact
• Cover the whole top, keep edges clear of the floor
• Never reach across the sterile surface

Placing instruments and supplies

Arrange the back table in the order of use: sutures, sponges and drapes in one area, instrument sets in another, basins and specialty items where they are accessible. Sets are opened by the circulating nurse so that the scrub nurse takes contents without contact. Count sponges, needles and sharps with the circulating nurse according to protocol.

On the Mayo stand place the instruments the surgeon needs first, such as the scalpel, forceps, scissors, clamps and needle holders, with handles toward the surgeon and tips toward the operative field. Keep sharps in a consistent location and avoid overloading the tray; the Lojer electric Mayo table lifts 50 kg with the worktop at 0 degrees and 30 kg when it is rotated.

Safety checks and common mistakes

Confirm the brakes are locked, the tray is stable, and nothing hangs over the edge. Do not move the stand over the patient unless the surgeon agrees and the stand is positioned safely. Common mistakes include overloading the tray, placing sharps loosely, poor sterile technique when draping and moving instruments across non-sterile areas.

For equipment background, see the Mayo stand guide and the back table article. If you want instrument tables supplied or trained on for a new theatre, contact Beckfinity for a consultation.

Training tips for new scrub staff

Teach the sequence with a dry run first: an empty set-up on a clean table so that new staff learn where each item goes. Use the surgeon's preference card as a checklist and photograph a correct set-up for each common procedure to speed up preparation.

Review each case afterwards. Note what was missing or misplaced and update the card. Consistency across the theatre team is the best protection against delay and error.