Surgery and Radiology Section

SURGICAL ACCESSORIES

Drapes Rectangular cotton sheets used to cover the body of the animal except surgical site – Preferably green colour. Drapes are used to protect exposed tissues from contamination from the surrounding skin during the surgical procedure. It should cover as much of the patient as possible, leaving only surgical site exposed. Drapes are made from variety of materials , such as cloth, paper, plastic and a paper- plastic combination. Drapes cane be wrapped and autoclaved or they can be purchased prewrapped and presterilized. During surgery, the drapes must be protected from contact with anything which is nonsterile. If under side of the drape ( side adjacent to the patient) in contact with a contaminated area, becomes wet with saline, blood or other fluids, capillary action will draw microorganisms to the outer sterile surface, resulting in contamination (Strike through). With single layer paper or cloth drapes, a wet drape is considered contaminated. Multiple layers of drapes and /or use of plastic or paper plastic combination drapes are preferred.

Gloves Modern latex gloves (presterilized) are available mow a days which act as a very thin physical barrier between the hands of the surgeon and the tissue of the patient. After surgical scrub, the hands are very clean but still harbour bacteria that could contaminate the surgical site.  There are two types of donning the gloves Closed gloving technique The bare skin of the hand is never visible in this technique. The hands are inserted down into, but not out through, the cuffs of the gown. The gloves are then manipulated through the gown cuffs, and the hands are inserted through the gown cuffs directly into the gloves. Open gloving technique One glove is picked up by the cuff and other hand is slide into it, with the glow cuff left down over the hand. The gloved fingers are then placed under the cuff of the other glove and the other hand is slide into the glove. The cuff of the glove is then pulled up over the cuff of the gown all the way around. The fingers are now completely gloved second hand are slipped under the cuffs is pulled up over the cuff of the gown all the way around

Mops

  

• Absorbent cotton/gauze pieces used for removal of blood / fluid from surgical site

Surgeon’s gown

    

    

• Cotton gown, green, full arm.
• It should be donned after the hand are scrubbed and dried
• The gowns should be picked up off its sterile wrap by the arm hole / shoulder area and allowed to unfold by gravity, with minimal shaking
• The arm holes should be located and the arms are slid down into the sleeves as far as the cuffs. An assistant can fasten the ties on the back of the gown

Surgeons cap

    

• The purpose of wearing the surgical cap is to prevent contamination from dislodged human hair.
• It must be clean and must form a intact barrier overall of the hair.
• Surgical caps are made from variety of materials in a variety of styles.
• Fine cotton/synthetic - green, blue, white.

Surgeons mask

   

• Fine cotton/synthetic – white, blue, green.
• Mask is worn to decrease contamination from the respiratory tract of surgical personnel by filtering the air expired from the nose and mouth
• If it becomes mointened from the humidity in the breath, it becomes less effective as a filter.

Sterilizing towels

• Cotton towels–for packing materials for sterilization.

Sterilizing drums

• To keep the sterilized surgical packs.