Indian Journal of Ophthalmology

ARTICLES
Year
: 1983  |  Volume : 31  |  Issue : 5  |  Page : 499--501

Disposable drapes used in ocular surgery


TS Surendran, S Bhaskaran, SS Badrinath 
 Sankara Nethralya, Unit of Medical Research Foundation, 18, College Road, Madras, India

Correspondence Address:
T S Surendran
Sankara Nethralava, Unit of Medical Research Foundation, 18, College Road, Madras-6.
India




How to cite this article:
Surendran T S, Bhaskaran S, Badrinath S S. Disposable drapes used in ocular surgery.Indian J Ophthalmol 1983;31:499-501


How to cite this URL:
Surendran T S, Bhaskaran S, Badrinath S S. Disposable drapes used in ocular surgery. Indian J Ophthalmol [serial online] 1983 [cited 2024 Mar 29 ];31:499-501
Available from: https://journals.lww.com/ijo/pages/default.aspx/text.asp?1983/31/5/499/29530


Full Text

Surgical drapes used in India are conven�tionally made up of cotton material. Using casement cloth, ophthalmic surgeons fashion out eye drapes in different sizes and shapes. Essentially such an eye drape consists of an oval opening allowing the eye to be operated, to be exposed to the outside while covering the remainder of the head and neck. The cut edge of the oval opening is stitched with cotton thread either with hand or machine. The main disadvantages of these cotton drapes are that formation from cut edges and soaking of saline used for irrigating the cornea. This contamina�tes the underlying skin which is conclusive to post-operative infection. This led us to find an ideal disposable drape from indigenous materials.

 Materials and Methods



Commercially available high molecular density polythene sheet of 100 microns size were cut into 80/130 cm size and an oval opening in the upper half was cut as shown in the picture. Fevicol PSV (Pressure Sensitive Vynilon) glue was applied with a squeezer by a special device over an area of 18/14 cm surrounding the oval cut portion. After 15 minutes of drying silicone coated release paper was applied over the glued surface and folded and put into double polythene bags and sterilized as shown with ethylene oxide gas.

On the table the technician cuts open the outer bag and drops the inner bag. The assis�tant opens the bag and removes the drape for use in surgery. After the usual preparation of the patient, Appukutty Wilson cataract mask (Shown in the picture/[Figure 1]) designed by us is now placed which allows oxygen to be piped in under the drape and also allows breathing through mouth and nostrils. The plastic drape is now brought over the eye to be operated and after removing the silicone coated release paper it is stuck surrounding the eye ensuring that only a small portion of the lids remain exposed. Care is taken to cover the eyebrows [Figure 2].

Commercially available cellophane tape of one inch width and length are used as stickers for holding the lid and superior rectus bridal sutures in place as shown [Figure 3].

 Results



In our clinical trial of 50 surgical procedures both under local and general anaesthesia, these drapes were evaluated subjectively and objec�tively. Objectively the surgeon evaluated the adhesivity of the eye drape in relation to duration of the surgery and in relation to type of surgery and we found good evaluation in 40 patients out of 50 patients and poor with 10 - patients. Fluffs were present in 5 out of 50 - patients. [Table 1].

Subjectively the patients evaluation of claustrophobia, suffocation and sweating were present in 7 patients out of 50 patients, [Table 2].

Surgeon's discomfort like poor adhesivity of the drapes, sticking to the skin and cloth peeling of the areas of skin were seen in only 9 patients. [Table 3].

Stickiness for bridal sutures were found to be satisfactory in 45 patients. [Table 4].

A study conducted at CIPET and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras indicated that these sheets have high surface resistance and poor conductivity and were found to have static electricity.

Prof. A.S. Thambiah and Dr. N. Janaki of Dermatology Department, Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Madras studied the toxicity, allergic and hyper�sensitivity reaction of high molecular density polythene sheets and Fevicol PSV glue before and after ethylene oxide sterilization, showed our drapes to be non-toxic, non irritant and non-allergenic at the 24 hours and also for a follow up period of 2 weeks.

 Conclusions



In summary indigenously available high molecular density polythene sheets can be used to fashion out disposable adhesive ophthalmic drapes. They eliminate fluff formation from the operative field and avoid contamination by soaking through repeated rinsing of anterior segment during surgery. Since it has high surface resistance, poor conductivity and static electricity. We recommend these drapes only during surgery requiring local anaesthesia and we feel it is ideal for ophthalmic surgery and strongly recommend its use in camp surgery.