Objectives State the purpose of surgical draping. Discuss various types and characteristics of draping material. Discuss drape types and the proper application to various anatomical regions of the body.

Purpose Serve as a barrier from sterile to nonsterile. Used to isolate the operative site from contaminants. Prevents SSI’s

Drape Characteristics Lint free to prevent contaminates from entering the wound. Fluid resistant Antistatic to prevent sparking Tear and puncture resistant Free of toxic materials

Drape Characteristics Porous to retain enough body heat to keep patient from hypo/hyperthermia. Color finish that will not reflect surgical lights. Flame retardant so they do not ignite with laser and ESU usage.

Drape Materials Nonwoven Fabrics Woven Textile Fabrics Plastic Adhesive –Incise drapes –Aperture drapes

Nonwoven Fabrics Disposable, compressed nylon or polyester. –Does not require washing, folding, or re-sterilizing. Light but strong material. Reinforced layers around fenestration. Equipped with special tags that serve as attachments for suction or ESU.

Woven Textile Fabrics Reusable cotton drapes Advantages: –Cheaper –Impermeable to liquids Disadvantages –Must be washed, folded, inspected, and sterilized. –Puts SPD personnel at added risk.

Plastic Adhesive Drapes Clear, thin, plastic material with an adhesive backing. –Incise drape Applied to the incision area after placement of wound towels. Prepped area must be dry for drape to stick to the skin.

Plastic Adhesive Drapes Incise drape –Applied to the incision area after placement of wound towels. –Prepped area must be dry for drape to stick to the skin. –May be impregnated with antimicrobial iodine solution. –Incision is made thru drape.

Incise Drape

Plastic Adhesive Drapes Aperture drape –Clear plastic drapes with openings surrounded by adhesive backing. –Examples: Eye drapes Hip fracture drapes

Eye Drape

Drape Types Drapes may have openings for exposure of the area to be incised, called fenestrations –One piece sheet should be long enough to cover patient from head to toes. Some drapes have no fenestrations and are used to cover unaffected body areas.

Fenestrated Drapes Abdomen Thorax and Kidney Neck Extremities Hip Perineum Cranium Laparotomy Sheet Transverse Lap Sheet Thyroid Sheet Extremity Sheet Hip Sheet Perineal Sheet Crainotomy sheet Specific drapes are made with openings to access specific body areas:

Laparotomy Sheet

Nonfenestrated Drapes Used to custom drape an odd area of the body or cover an unaffected area. Rectangular shaped drapes: –Minor or Medium sheets –Half or Three quarter sheets

Nonfenestrated Drapes Lithotomy –Used to drape a patient in lithotomy position. –Under buttocks, Leggings, Abdominal drape Split sheets –U shaped drape with “tails” used to drape extremities. Stockinette –Unrolled to cover extremities. –May be covered in plastic.

Split Sheet

Custom Packs Opened on the back table to create initial sterile field. Customized to contain drapes and supplies for an area of the body, specific procedure, or specific facility. Example: Open Heart Pack

Review and Summary Purpose of surgical draping Drape materials Drape types Custom packs