(5) Do not drop or place clean supplies on the floor. Do not drop or place
used supplies or soiled linen on the floor.
d. Only the top surface of a draped table is considered sterile. Anything
extending over the edge or hanging over the edge is not sterile.
(1) Linen or sutures falling over the edge of the table should be discarded.
The scrub should not touch the part hanging below the table level.
(2) When the scrub drapes a table with sterile linen, he should see that the
part of the linen that drops below the table's surface is not brought up to table level
again.
e. Once again, neither the circulator nor the scrub may intrude upon the
other's area at any time, although it is very important that they consult with each other
and that each is aware of what the other is doing. The duties performed by the scrub
and by the circulator are governed by specific procedural rules. Persons who are
"sterile" touch only sterile articles; "unsterile" persons touch only unsterile items. All
supplies for the "sterile" team members (scrub, surgeon, and assistants) are provided
by the circulator ("unsterile" team member) who protects the sterility of items through
the use of the wrappers on sterile packages (see Figure 1-1). These procedures are
described in paragraphs f and g below.
NOTE: In Figure 1-1, observe how the circulator handles the sterile wrapper and the
distance he stands from the sterile field.
f.
The scrub is considered a "sterile" person.
(1) The "sterile" personnel gowns and gloves without touching the outside
of the gown or gloves with his bare hands.
(a) If a "sterile" team member's glove is punctured during an
operation, the glove is to be changed at once.
(b) If the glove is pricked by a needle or an instrument, the needle or
instrument is discarded from the sterile field. Notify the circulator of the needle's
whereabouts.
(2) The parts of a surgical gown (see Figures 1-2 and 1-3) considered
sterile are the sleeves (except for the axillary area) and the front of the gown from table
level to a few inches below the neck opening.
(3) The scrub sets basins or glasses to be filled at the edge of the sterile
table opposite where he stands. The circulator stands near the edge of the table to fill
them.
MD0935
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