Chapter 12: Surgical Case Management; Short Answer: Draping

Circle the INCORRECT statement. When passing the main drape; A) Orient the drape, making sure head/foot segments are right. B) Offer drape to the surgeon with hands on top and fenestration over surgical site. C) Open drape, keeping hands on top (in sight). D) Extend foot observing and stabilizing sheet to prevent shifting of sheet (do not pull against surgeon). E) Cuff drapes as you extend. F) Drop end if anesthesia is too slow in taking your end so you can set up ESU and suction.

F) is the incorrect statement; do not drop the end if anesthesia is too slow = contamination.

Additional items that may be used to drape an extremity include:

Half sheet, towels, extremity sheet, 3/4 sheet

Describe how to prepare the draping materials for a routine exploratory laparotomy.

Hand towels first to surgeon; first towel cuffed edge faces away from you, and on next three towels the edge faces toward you. Then hand up the drape with adhesive cover off and head on drape towards head of patient.

After initial placement, drapes are never _______ ; if contaminated the drape is ______ by the circulator and it is ______.

Moved; Removed; Discarded

Fill in the blank: Drapes and towels are not passed over ______ areas. It will be necessary to pass the drape to the surgeon from the _____ side of the OR table.

Unsterile; Same

Sometimes the surgical technologist in the scrub role will begin draping and must know how to place the "squaring off" towels. Describe how the towels are placed around the site. A) First towel B) Second towel C) Third towel D) Fourth towel

A) Side nearest the individual applying the drapes B) Superiorly C) Inferiorly D) Opposite side of the first towel