Pre-operative preparation
Pre-Induction
- Identify patient, operation, site, side, starved, allergies
- Check blood available
- Check investigations
- Check imaging
Removal of body hair
- Remove from operative field
- Allow for clear surface for application of dressings
- Perform on morning of surgery
- Care to avoid cuts/abrasions
Skin preparation
- Apply to operative field with wide margin (in case need to extend incision)
- Start at focus and move around
- Chlorhexidine (0.5%)
- Alcoholic betadine (1% povidine in 70% alcohol)
Field Draping
- Sterile linen drapes
- Disposable fabrics (impermeable and waterproof), expensive
- Polyurethane incisible drapes (clear stuff) used in orthopaedics/vascular, general surgery - limited by cost
