CENTERPIECE The business of surgery depends on the support of an OR table.

Your OR table is a workhorse, intended to be a fixture in surgery for 15 to 20 years. Routine preventive maintenance and the occasional replacing of components can extend that lifespan, but when the motor's power isn't what it used to be, the hydraulic cylinder is losing its lift, or obsolescence is simply overtaking your OR table, a fix may be more costly than it's worth.

Replacing capital equipment may not be at the top of your list of favorite activities, or within the immediate reach of your budget, but that doesn't mean you're without options. Pre-owned tables rebuilt to the original manufacturers' standards, demonstration models that have seen light use in customers' ORs and exhibit halls, and even new units that do double-duty as surgical and imaging tables, or as table and transport, can offer lower-cost but high-value alternatives to equipment debt.

We asked a panel of manufacturers for the products they would recommend as economical choices for ambulatory ORs that don't cut corners on quality. Here are the 7 tables they suggested to us.

Allen Medical (a Hill-Rom Company)
Allen Advance Table
allenmedical.com
(978) 266-4200
Pricing: $70,000 to $99,000, depending on options
FYI: When spine positioning with 360° radiolucency is required, the Allen Advance table is up to the task. This safe and cost-effective spinal table can be used for prone or supine positions, and offers the ability to "flip" the patient intraoperatively. Its modern interface delivers easy-to-understand functions and control, and its structural design eliminates safety concerns over table collapses and patient drops resulting from pulling the wrong pins.

Berchtold
Operon D 760 Surgical Table
berchtoldusa.com
(800) 243-5135
Pricing: low $30,000s
FYI: The Operon D 760 can handle a weight capacity of 1,000 lbs. in normal orientation and 500 lbs. in reverse orientation. With a vertical range of 25 inches to 42.3 inches, it lets surgeons operate either standing or seated. The D 760 includes an 18.3-inch-wide integrated X-ray cassette tunnel to eliminate the need for separate radiolucent tops. Its patient positioning features include 225° of flex, a 3-inch kidney elevator and 20° of lateral tilt.

DRE Medical
DRE Versailles P100 Mobile Surgical Table
dremed.com
(800) 462-8195
Pricing: starts at $15,000
FYI: A full-featured electrical surgery table, the DRE Versailles P100 also incorporates the mobility of a stretcher, letting users transport patients from pre-op to the OR to post-op without transfering them from surface to surface. This multi-function surgical table and transport system can replace several devices at once, delivering value and safety. Engineered from high-quality materials for stability and long-term use, it enables 18 inches of slide and full C-arm access.

Maquet Medical Systems
Alphastar Pro
maquetusa.com
(888) 627-8383
Pricing: $35,000 to $45,000
FYI: With a maximum patient weight capacity of 1,000 lbs., a 3-point stance base for stability and Maquet's innovative autodrive feature, the Alphastar Pro is ideal for supporting and transporting substantial patient weight easily and safely. A motorized leg plate provides flexibility and versatility of use as well as ergonomic positioning for patients, while an extension plate on the foot side enables radiolucency for imaging.

Oricare
T3600 Operating Table
oricaremed.com
(267) 347-4544
Pricing: $27,700
FYI: The Oricare T3600's stainless steel construction and radiolucent memory foam mattress are durable and easy to clean. Fully charged, its integrated battery can enable 15 days of patient positioning. The table is equipped with a control panel and a handset control, with a backup system if either malfunctions. A 1-key reset function conveniently returns the table to a horizontal position after a case, and a hydraulic pedestal lock/unlock makes the table easy to move or solidly stable.

Steris
AMSCO 3080-R Remanufactured Surgical Table
steris.com
(800) 548-4873
Pricing: lists at $27,313
FYI: A mobile, electrohydraulically operated surgical table, the 3080-R table can be safely articulated with normally positioned patients weighing up to 600 lbs. (higher than the table's original weight claim) as long as the floor locks are engaged. Steris's remanufactured 3080-R tables have been restored to original equipment standards using Steris parts. They meet all applicable safety standards for electromedical equipment at the time of original manufacture and conform to any approved changes to the original design.

Surgical Tables, Inc.
Bariatric Series Surgical Table
surgicaltables.com
(888) 737-5044
Pricing: $33,000 to $43,000
FYI: The Bariatric Series table from Surgical Tables, Inc., can support 1,000 lbs. on a diving-board style cantilevered table for unobstructed C-arm access, as opposed to center-post lifting systems that interfere with bariatric patients' most important anatomy. The 84-inch-long carbon-fiber tabletop accommodates tall patients, and its 27-inch width eliminates the need for arm boards. The table is topped with 2 inches of padding for patient comfort. Lightweight and easy to maneuver, the table includes hand or foot controls.