Surgical Draping
Dr. Aidah Abu Elsoud Alkaissi
An Najah National University
Faculty of Nursing
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Surgical Draping
Draping procedures create an area of a sepsis called a sterile
field
Created by placement of sterile sheets and towels in a specific
position to maintain the sterility of surfaces on which sterile
instruments and gloved hands may be placed
The patient and operating room bed are covered with sterile
drapes in a manner that exposes the prepared site of incision
and isolates the area of the surgical wound
Objects draped include instrument tables, basin and Mayo stand,
trays and some surgical equipment
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Draping Materials
Are selected to create and maintain an effective barrier that
minimizes the passage of microorganisms between nonsterile
and sterile areas
To be effective, a barrier material is resistant to blood, aqueous
fluid and abrasion as lint free as possible
Maintain isothermic environment that is appropriate to body
temperature
Meet the requirements of the current National Fire Protection
Association Standards so that no risk from a static charge exists
Fabric draping materials must be penetrable by steam under
pressure or by gas to acheive sterilization within hospital facilities
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Reusable Drapes
The performance characteristic of primary concern for drapes
(or gowns) to be used repeatedly is fluid impermeability under
the conditions of use
The process of steam sterilizing and laundering swells the
fabric whereas drying and ironing shrinks the fibers
This cycle increases the propensity for loosened fibers that
alter the fabric structure
Most manufactures report a loss of barrier quality after 75
laundryand/or sterilization cycles
A system to monitor the number of times an item has been
laundered is essential for barrier quality control
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Disposable Drapes
Prevent bacterial penetration and fluid breakthrough
Successfull drapes are soft, lint, free, lightweight, compact
moisture resistant, nonirritating, and static free
Lightness and compactness of synthetic drapes prevent heat
retention by patients, contribute to ease inhandling and storage
and conserve storage space and personnel´s time
Disposable drapes reduce the hazards of contamination in the
presence of known infectious microorganisms in body fluids and
excretions and in situations in which laundering of grossly
contaminated textiles is a problem
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Disposable Drapes
Collection, transportation and storage of waste
materials can be a problem
Incineration (burning) is a method for destroying
waste disposables- but must properly
managedto prevent environmental contamination
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Plastic Incisional Drapes
Impermeable polyvinyl sheeting are available in the
form of sterile, prepacked surgical drapes
The incision is made directly through the adherent
plastic drape
Facilitates draping of irregular body surfaces as
neck and ear regions, extrimities and joints
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Standard drapes
A whole , or plain sheet is used to cover instrument tables,
operating tables, and body regions
The sheet should be large enough to provide an adequate margin
of safety between the surrounding pgysical environment end the
prepared operative field
Surgical towels in one or two sizes should be available to drape the
operative site. Four surgical towels are sufficient
Fenestrated or slit sheets are used for draping patients. They leave
the operative site exposed,use for (laparatomy draping)abdomen,
chest, flank, back, other size for limb, head and neck
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Aperineal drape
For operations on the perineum and genitalia
with the patient in lithotomy position
A lithotomy drape consists of a fenestrated sheet
and two triangular leggings
A commercial disposable lithotomy drape back,
is suitable for delivery, cystoscopy,
hemorrhoidectomy and vaginal procedures
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Folding drapes for use
Drapes should be folded so that the gowned and gloved
members of the team can handle them with ease and
safety
The larger, regular sheet is usually fanfolded from
bottom to top
The bottom folds may be 4 inches wider than the upper
ones
The small sheet is folded in half and then quartered
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Draping Procedure
Carry the folded drape to the operative site, where the drape is
carefully unfolded and placed in proper position after a drape has
been placed, it should not be moved
Hold sterile drapes above waist level until properly placed on the
patient or object being draped. If the end of a drape falls bellow
waist level, it should not be retrieved because the area bellow the
waist is considered unsterile
Protect the gown by distance and the gloved hands by cuffing
drapes over them
The scrub nurse should have all parts of the drape under positive
control at all times during placement and should use precise and
direct motion
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Draping Procedure
Drapping is always done from sterile area to an unsterile
areaand by drapping nearest first
The scub nurse should never reach across an unsterile
area to drape
When the opposite side of the operating room bed must be
draped , the scrub nurse must go around the bed to drape
Do not flip, fan or shake drapes. Rapid movement of
drapes creates air currents on which dust, lint and droplet
nuclei may migrate
Shaking a drape causes uncontrolled motion of the drape
which may cause it to come in contactwith an unsterile
surface or object
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Draping Procedure
A drape should be carefully unfolded and allowed to fall gently
into position by gravity
The low portion of a sheet that falls bellow the safe working
level should never be raised or lifted back onto the sterile area
Drape the incisional area first and then the periphery
Use nonperforating towel clamps or devices to secure tubing
and other items on a sterile field
When sterility of a drape is questionable, consider it
contaminated
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Arrangement of items on sterile
tables
Factors to be considered include the surgeon´s
method of working, ease in handling, preparing,
transporting items and reduction in human
energey
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Operating room environment
Sanitation
Effective sanitation techniques should be established to
control and reduce the possibility of cross infection of
patients in OR
Blood and tissue fluids from any patient may contain
microorganisms that are pathogenic to other persons
Operating room practices should be developed to
provide complete isolation for each patient
This isolation is accomplished by considering every
surgical wound to be potentially contaminated
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Operating room environment
principles of confine and contain
This principle recommends that personnel restrict all
patient microorganisms to an area of 3 feet around the
pat
To implement this principles prevents the transfere of
microorganisms an=nd protects patients and personnel
Adherence to this principle eliminates the soctly practice
of special decontamination procedures for dirty cases
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
Procedure
Read Page 101 please
Dr. Aidah Abu Alsoud Alkaissi D
