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Michael S. Godin, MD; Carlos J. Lavernia, MD; Jeffrey P. Harris, MD, PhD

Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1991;117(8):910-913.

Abstract
• With the advent of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome crisis, it has become imperative that all surgeons minimize their risk of direct contact with the patient's body fluids. In the course of performing surgery, perforations are frequently created in surgical gloves, which often go unnoticed. This study determined the frequency with which occult glove perforations occurred in 134 consecutive head and neck surgical procedures. One thousand fifty gloves (650 gloves used in surgery, 400 unused control gloves) were analyzed for the presence of perforations large enough to permit the passage of fluid. An unrecognized glove perforation was detected in 25% of surgical cases. The duration of surgery correlated strongly and positively with the incidence of perforation. Perforation rates varied widely for specific types of procedures, and are reported for each of the five subdivisions within otolaryngology—head and neck surgery. The implications of these results are described, and recommendations for the use of protective measures, especially in reference to the use of double-gloving, are made.

(Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1991;117:910-913)

Author Affiliations
From the Division of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Departments of Surgery (Drs Godin and Harris), and Orthopedic Surgery (Dr Lavernia), University of California at San Diego Medical Center.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication February 15, 1991.

Presented at the 74th annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Oto-Ophthalmological Society, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 20, 1990.

Reprint requests to the Division of Head and Neck Surgery, University of California at San Diego Medical Center, H-895, 225 Dickinson St, San Diego, CA 92103 (Dr Godin).

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ABSTRACT