Sterile Surgical Procedures and Field Organization

These flashcards cover the vocabulary and protocols for surgical scrubbing, gowning, gloving, sterile field organization, and counting based on the STT12 Week 5 lecture.

Counted brush stroke method

A traditional surgical scrubbing method where a specific number of strokes are applied to the nails, fingers, and arms.

Waterless scrub

Alcohol-based solutions used for surgical hand prep that may be as or more effective than traditional scrub solutions.

Standard hand wash duration (Pre-scrub)

A $30$-second antimicrobial wash performed before beginning the formal surgical scrub.

Nail scrubbing (Counted method)

The initial step of the scrub involving $30$ strokes per hand; one stroke is a combined movement in both directions.

Finger planes

The four surfaces of the fingers that must be scrubbed: superior, medial, lateral, and inferior.

Finger strokes (Counted method)

The requirement to perform $10$ strokes per plane for each finger.

Arm scrub boundary

The surgical scrub should extend to $2"$ above the elbow.

Dipping maneuver

A specific technique used to rinse the arms thoroughly after the surgical scrub is completed.

Closed gloving orientation

The technique of placing the glove cuff to gown cuff in a "Palm to palm, Thumb to thumb" position.

Wrap-around gown

A surgical gown designed to cover the back, requiring the gowned person to turn while a circulator holds a tab to secure the ties.

Zone 1 (Sterile Field)

The area designated for the Mayo stand, including its drape and initial organization.

Zone 2 (Sterile Field)

The area for sharps and softs, including countable items like sutures, sponges, and basins.

Zone 3 (Sterile Field)

The area on the back table designated for instruments and the instrument stringer.

Zone 4 (Sterile Field)

The least important zone, used for organizing gowns, gloves, and drapes in their order of use.

Strike-through contamination

The penetration of liquid through a sterile barrier; towels are applied to the back table to prevent this.

Bulb syringe filling process

The procedure of expelling air, maintaining pressure on the bulb, placing it in liquid, and releasing pressure to draw liquid into the syringe.

Initial count

The formal count of surgical items performed once the back table has been organized but before the Mayo stand is set up.