NEVER
drop his hands below the level of the sterile area at which he is
working.
NEVER
touch his surgical gown above the level of the axillary or below the
level of the sterile area where he is working.
NEVER
put his hands behind his back; he must keep them within his full view
at all times.
NEVER
tuck his gloved hands under his armpits, as the axillary region of his
gown is contaminated.
NEVER
reach across an unsterile area for an item.
NEVER
touch an unsterile object with gloved hands unless ordered to do so
by the surgeon.
Table 1-2. Rules to observe while wearing sterile gown and gloves.
NOTE: The surgeon will not give such an order as to allow someone to touch an
unsterile object with gloved hands unless a dire emergency exists (such as cardiac
arrest) when the time element is of paramount importance in saving the patient's
life.
NOTE: If the scrub contaminates his gown and gloves in any of the ways just
mentioned in Table 1-2, he needs to discard and replace his gown and gloves.
1-21. CLOSED CUFF METHOD
a. Discussion. The closed cuff method of gloving is preferable to the open
cuff method when the specialist must glove himself. The closed cuff method eliminates
potential hazards in the glove procedure as follows:
(1) The danger of contamination of gloves caused by the glove cuffs
rolling on skin is eliminated because the skin surface is not exposed.
(2) The gown cuffs can be anchored securely by the gloves without the
danger of contamination that exists when gloves are donned by the open cuff method.
b.
Procedure.
(1) Take a tuck in each gown cuff if the cuffs are loose. Make the tuck by
manipulating the fingers inside the gown sleeve; do not expose the bare hands while
tucking the gown cuffs.
MD0933
1-19