A study of the incidence and recognition of surgical glove perforation during obstetric and gynecological procedures.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the frequency of surgical glove perforation among obstetric and gynecological surgical procedures, and to evaluate surgeons' perceptions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in which nursing personnel examined the gloves used in obstetric and gynecological procedures, immediately after the surgery, in order to detect perforations. Surgical glove perforation occurred in 20.8% of 817 obstetrics procedures and 24.4% of 131 gynecology procedures. The observed difference between groups was not statistically significant (p=0.35). Obstetricians perceived the occurrence of perforation in 30.6% of the events, and gynecologists in 37.5%. This difference was not statistically significant (p=0.44).