Velcro on Laparotomy Sheet

Abstract

Operating room nurses are fully aware that, clespite the many disposable items used, a great deal of our time is still spent in checking linen and surgical drapes before packs can be made. The use of towel clips to secure suction tubing and cords needed during an operation creates problems in that laparotomy sheets become peppered with holes and need to be patched. Preventing these small holes i n the first place woulcl resolve this problem, ant1 we set out to eliminate the use of towel clips. It was felt that whatever could replace the towel clips would have to accomplish two things : 1. It would have to be simple to use. 2. It would in no way hamper any procedure or be objectionable to the members of the operating team. At first we thought that a 1-inch wide cotton tape sewn on a laparotomy sliret with a loop large enough to draw the suction tubing and the Bovie cord through, might he the answer to our problem. Upon closer scrut.iny, the idea was abandoned. Our reason for abandoning the sewn on loop was apparent. Should the suction tip or Bovie cord accidentally fall below the sterile field, we would have to cut the loop to remove the contaminated equipment. The cut loop would have to be replaced, which meant ripping out the pieces and sewing new tape in place. Our initial effort was deemed impractical. Next, we explored the possibility of sewing