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During the operation, medical staff will be exposed to various pathogenic factors. Surgical gowns and surgical drapes are mainly used to maintain a sterile environment, thereby protecting patients and hospital staff from contamination. Therefore, this article will introduce the performance and requirements of surgical gowns and surgical drapes, as a reference for clinical selection of surgical gowns and surgical drapes.
1. Barrier ability requirements
According to the barrier ability, AAMI divides surgical materials into 4 grades. Its use can be determined according to AAMI's grading index, and surgical gowns with different barrier capabilities can be used for different operations. For example, grade 1-2 surgical gowns are used for routine operations, grade 3 surgical gowns are used for surgeries with heavy bleeding, and grade 4 surgical gowns are used for infectious operations.
The EU EN13795 standard is divided into standard surgical gowns and reinforced surgical gowns according to different uses. Standard surgical gowns are used for routine operations with less bleeding, and reinforced surgical gowns are used for operations with longer operation time and more bleeding, such as orthopedic surgery and gastrointestinal surgery.
2. Wear resistance and tensile resistance
The burst strength and tensile strength are specified in both EU and American standards, as follows:
Quality Index Detection method Standard Surgical Gown Reinforced Surgical Gown
Key area Sub-key Area Key area Sub-key Area
EU standard
Dry burst strength（kPa） ISO 13938-1 ≥40 ≥40 ≥40 ≥40
Wet burst strength（kPa） ISO 13938-1 ≥40 No request ≥40 No request
Dry tensile strength（N） ISO 9073-3:198 ≥20 ≥20 ≥20 ≥20
Wet tensile strength（N） ISO 9073-3:198 ≥20 No request ≥20 No request
US standard
Wear resistance ASTM D 4966 Martindale test ≥3grade（The higher the better）
Incomplete or easily torn surgical gowns can cause microorganisms, particles, and liquids to flow between the sterile zone and the bacterial zone, exposing patients to foreign organisms, and exposing healthcare to blood-borne diseases.
3. Blanking requirements
Surgical gowns and surgical drapes should be made of low-grade blanking. The European Union standard stipulates that the blanking amount of surgical gowns is less than or equal to 4.0, and the American standard stipulates that the particle amount of surgical gowns is less than 20.
4. Flame retardant requirements
The selection of surgical gowns and surgical drapes should meet acceptable flammability standards to provide the safest environment for patients and medical professionals.
5. Comfort requirements
International standards related to comfort include: (1) the fabric is not easy to deform; (2) easy to wear; (3) maintain the wearer's body temperature; (4) good air permeability. The surgical gown and surgical drape should be comfortable and maintain the wearer's body temperature.
According to the above requirements, surgeons and hospital purchasers can choose appropriate surgical gowns and surgical drapes to protect medical personnel from various risk factors during the operation and protect patients from medical personnel.