Transmural surgical gown pressure measurements in the operating theater.
Transmural gown pressures encountered when the surgeon comes into contact with a patient were measured in the operating theater. The surgical gown industry has assumed these pressures to be less than 5 psi in testing the efficacy of the gown and drape barrier material to impede bacterial transmission through its pores. In this study, pressure-sensitive contact film and resistive strain gauge recordings made from the surgeon's abdominal region and forearms indicated peak contact pressures in excess of 60 psi. This report indicates a need to reassess the basis of test utilization in evaluating barrier materials used in gowns and drapes.
Altman
K W
KW
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC.
McElhaney
J H
JH
Moylan
J A
JA
Fitzpatrick
K T
KT
D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011312:Pressure; D011481:Protective Clothing; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology