STERILE GOWNING AND GLOVING *SURGERY*

Summary

This video provides a detailed guide on three crucial surgical gloving and gowning techniques: the closed glove technique, the open glove technique, and counting and gloving for the surgeon. The closed glove technique is demonstrated as the safest method for scrubbing into a sterile field, while the open glove technique is explained for non-scrubbed-in tasks like assisting with procedures. The final section covers how to assist the surgeon in gowning and gloving. The video emphasizes the importance of maintaining sterility throughout each process to ensure a safe and effective surgical environment.

Takeaways

• 😀 Closed glove technique is the safest method to use when scrubbing into a sterile field, ensuring that your gown and gloves remain sterile throughout the procedure.
• 😀 Always ensure your hands stay within the gown cuff while applying gloves in the closed glove technique to prevent contamination.
• 😀 When gowning yourself, avoid opening gowns on the sterile field, as it can cause contamination if your hands or other items get wet.
• 😀 Open glove technique is best used for assisting with smaller tasks, such as dressing wounds or covering lines at the end of a procedure, not when scrubbing into surgery.
• 😀 In open glove technique, always start by handling the gloves by their cuff, ensuring you only touch the inside of the glove with your sterile hands.
• 😀 When assisting with gowning a surgeon or assistant, start from the far side and carefully unfold the gown to avoid contaminating the outside.
• 😀 When counting and gloving a surgeon, always start with the right glove and ensure your grip remains sterile by using the cuff and not touching the glove’s interior.
• 😀 Personal preference for many surgical techs is to glove themselves on the sterile field, even if school training may suggest otherwise.
• 😀 If you’re not scrubbed in but need to gown and glove, try to open gowns outside of the sterile field to prevent contamination.
• 😀 Ensure that sterile gloves are not opened or placed on top of sterile gowns in a way that could risk contamination, especially in tight surgical spaces.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this video?

The main focus of the video is to demonstrate three sterile techniques for gowning and gloving in a surgical setting: the open glove technique, the closed glove technique, and counting the surgeon during gowning and gloving.

What is the primary advantage of using the closed glove technique?

The closed glove technique ensures that the gown remains sterile by keeping the hands inside the gown’s cuffs, which helps prevent contamination of both the gloves and gown during the process.

Why does the speaker prefer to gown off the sterile field but glove on the sterile field?

The speaker prefers to gown off the field to avoid contaminating the gown with wet hands, as they’re often wet from scrubbing in. Gloves are put on the sterile field to avoid contaminating them while opening, as gloves can easily fall and become contaminated if opened on top of a gown.

When should the open glove technique be used?

The open glove technique should only be used in specific scenarios like assisting with a central line dressing or applying a Tegaderm, where gloves are exposed outside the sterile field but are still considered sterile.

What is the risk of contaminating gloves during the open glove technique?

The risk is that touching the outside of the gloves while opening them or allowing them to touch non-sterile surfaces can lead to contamination, making the gloves unsafe to use.

Why is it important to avoid contaminating the gown during the gowning process?

It is crucial to avoid contaminating the gown because the gown is part of the sterile field, and contamination could compromise the sterility of the surgical environment, leading to infections or other complications.

What are some tips for avoiding contamination when setting up a sterile field?

To avoid contamination, the speaker recommends opening gowns away from the sterile field, using dry hands and arms during the process, and being cautious when handling gloves to ensure they do not fall off or touch non-sterile surfaces.

What does the speaker advise against doing when gowning and gloving in a small room?

In a small room, the speaker advises against taking a gown directly from the sterile field, even though it's common, as this can lead to contamination. If possible, gowns should be opened in another area to maintain sterility.

How should you assist the surgeon with gowning and gloving?

When assisting the surgeon, the speaker advises starting with the far left side, holding the inside tab of the gown, and carefully pulling it down. Gloves should be put on in the same manner as when doing it for oneself, ensuring the cuffs are folded down correctly.

What is the correct sequence for performing the closed glove technique?

For the closed glove technique, first, the gown is put on with the cuffs over the arms, followed by gloves being placed over the gown cuffs, starting with the right glove and then the left. The gloves are carefully manipulated to avoid contamination while ensuring they cover the gown’s cuffs properly.