LESSON 4
PROCEDURES DURING AND FOLLOWING SURGERY
Section I. PROCEDURES DURING SURGERY
4-1.
MAINTENANCE OF QUIET
a. The scrub and the circulator should talk as little as possible throughout a
surgical procedure in order to help promote sterile conditions. Droplets expelled from
the mouth during conversation may contain pathogenic microorganisms. Masks should
be changed as often as necessary. Do not allow a mask to become wet.
b. Once the patient has been brought into the operating room, quiet should be
maintained to avoid frightening or exciting him. The maintenance of quiet is of particular
importance when the patient has been given spinal or local anesthesia and is awake
during a procedure. Team members should avoid any mention of such things as
knives, blood, and the like. In addition, there should be no discussion of the diagnosis
or the condition of any patient.
4-2.
MAINTENANCE OF ASEPTIC TECHNIQUE
a. General. The circulator has the best opportunity to see breaks in aseptic
technique. However, the scrub and all of the other team members in the operating
room are also responsible for watching for breaks in technique. Whenever such a break
is observed, the team member who sees it should speak up at once so that the
necessary corrective measure can be taken.
b. Circulator. The circulator must be alert to any break in sterile technique
and observe the following rules.
(1) Do not touch or reach over the sterile field. When placing sterile items,
transfer is made to the edge of the instrument table.
(2) Face sterile areas when passing; do not pass between two sterile
areas or two sterile team members.
(3) Do not touch the edge of the cap or lid to the edge of the container into
which sterile solutions are poured.
(4) Wash hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds after each patient
contact or handling contaminated items.
MD0935
4-2
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