5 8 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • M A R C H 2 0 1 7
What Surgeons Want in Their Gowns
N
o doc wants to operate in a hot, heavy gown, but bar-
rier protection trumps comfort and breathability
every time. So long as there's no strikethrough,
there's no problem.
"The biggest thing we need in a surgical gown can be summarized in
one word: impermeable. That's it," says David Renton, MD, MPH, an
assistant professor of surgery at Ohio State University's Center for
Minimally Invasive Surgery in Columbus. "Some people may say they
want it to breathe so it won't be as hot. Or to be soft so it's movable and
feels good against the skin. But in the end, the most important thing is
• PROTECTIVE APPAREL Above all else, surgeons wants an impermeable barrier against bloodborne pathogens and viruses.
Comfort, breathability and mobility are nice, but barrier protection is
the most important attribute.
Dan O'Connor | Editor-in-Chief
Pamela
Bevelhymer,
RN,
BSN