How to Choose Operating Tables for Surgery in a UAE Hospital

Start with the case mix, not the catalogue

The best operating table is the one that fits your surgical programme. A general surgery and gynaecology theatre has different needs from an orthopaedic suite that works under a C-arm all day, and both differ from a day-surgery unit that values fast patient turnover. List the disciplines, the heaviest patients you expect, and whether imaging will be used on the table before you compare any model.

Write this down as a short user requirement. It prevents the common mistake of buying the most feature-rich surgical table when two simpler, better-matched tables would serve two theatres more effectively.

Drive type: manual, electric or mixed

Surgical tables operating room teams use today fall into three groups. Manual hydraulic tables adjust height with a pump or pedal and use mechanical or gas-spring assisted sections. Electric tables move height, tilt and sections with motors, usually from a hand control, and often store memory positions. Some hybrids combine both. Electric designs save staff effort and support repeatable positions, while manual tables keep working when power or batteries are a concern.

For example, the Lojer Smarter Practico is an electric table with a smart hand control, memory positions including height, and battery operation, whereas the Practico Manual is a hydraulic table with a stainless steel top built for demanding environments. If you are weighing the two approaches, our note on electric operating tables explains where the extra investment pays back.

Load rating, height range and positions

Always separate the safe working load from the maximum lifting capacity. The safe working load is what the table is rated to carry in clinical use, including when the top is slid or tilted. Maximum lifting capacity is a different, usually higher figure. Ask the supplier for both, and for the load rating in every position you plan to use. The Grand Promerix, for instance, lists a safe working load of 275 kg and is positioned for bariatric surgery, while Smarter Practico lists 280 kg in all directions including slide.

Check height range for surgeon comfort, Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg angles for laparoscopic work, and lateral tilt. For C-arm work, look at the longitudinal slide and base shape: a slim base and a slide of several hundred millimetres give the imaging team room to work.

• Safe working load and maximum lifting capacity, in all positions
• Lowest and highest table-top height
• Trendelenburg, reverse Trendelenburg and lateral tilt angles
• Longitudinal slide and base design for C-arm access
• Radiolucent zones for X-ray cassettes and image intensifiers

Table tops, sections and accessories

Modular tops let you swap head, seat and leg sections for different cases. Scandia Prime, for example, has interchangeable sections and full-length accessory rails, which is useful for a theatre that serves several disciplines. Rails should accept the accessory standards you already own, and the accessory interface should be quick and secure. Spec the accessory package as carefully as the table itself; see our guide to operating table accessories for a practical list.

Also consider the mattress and pads, which affect pressure care and cleaning, and whether the table top is radiolucent where imaging is needed.

Cleaning, safety standards and service

Sealed bellows, a seamless base cover and few crevices make daily disinfection faster and more reliable. Ask which cleaning agents are approved. Operating tables are medical electrical equipment, so request the manufacturer's declaration against IEC 60601-1 and the particular standard for operating tables, and confirm current device registration requirements with the relevant UAE authority such as MOHAP, plus any emirate-level rules from DHA or DOH for your facility.

Finally, treat service as part of the purchase: ask about spare parts availability, preventive maintenance intervals, battery replacement and local engineer training. Our team supports installation and maintenance for the equipment we distribute, so you can plan acceptance testing from the start.

Questions to put to every supplier

Use the same short questionnaire with each bidder so the answers are comparable. Request the full technical data sheet, the accessory list that is included versus optional, installation and room requirements, warranty terms, training and the process for emergency repairs. A supplier who answers these clearly is usually easier to work with after the sale.

If you would like a recommendation for a specific theatre, Beckfinity's specialists can compare options from our Lojer range against your case mix and send a configuration for review.