2. The procedure of covering a patient and surrounding
areas with a sterile barrier to create and maintain a
sterile field during a surgical procedure is called
draping. The purpose of draping is to eliminate the
passage of microorganisms between nonsterile and
sterile areas. Draping materials may be disposable or
nondisposable. Disposable drapes are generally paper
or plastic or a combination and may or may not be
absorbent. Nondisposable drapes are usually double-
thickness muslin. Drapes, of course, must be sterile.
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. 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
7. 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
8. 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
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. Factors to be considered include the surgeon´s
method of working, ease in handling,
preparing, transporting items and reduction in
human energey
16. 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
17. This principle recommends that personnel
restrict all patient microorganisms to an area of
3 feet around the patient
To implement this principles prevents the
transfer of microorganisms an=and protects
patients and personnel
Adherence to this principle eliminates the
costly practice of special decontamination
procedures for dirty cases
18. 1) Handle the drapes as little as possible.
(2) Never reach across the operating table to drape the
opposite side; go around the table.
(3) Hold the drapes high enough to avoid touching
nonsterile area but avoid touching the overhead light.
(4) Hold the drape high until it is directly over the
proper area, then drop (open fingers and release sheet)
it down where it is to remain. NEVER ADJUST ANY
DRAPE. If the drape is incorrectly placed, leave it in
place and place another drape over it.
(5) Protect the gloved hands by cuffing the end of the
sheet over them. Do not let the gloved hand touch the
skin of the patient
19. 6) In unfolding a sheet from the operative site
toward the foot or head of the table, protect the
gloved hand by enclosing it in the turned back cuff
of the sheet.
(7) If a drape becomes contaminated, discard it
immediately.
(8) If the end of a drape falls below waist level, do
not handle it further. Drop it and use another
drape.
(9) If in doubt about sterility, discard the drape.
(10) If a hole is found in a drape after it is laid
down, cover the hole with another drape or
discard the entire drape.
