1 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9
I
n an effort to reduce the
infection rate among our
colon resection patients,
we took some advice from
our GYN/ONCO surgeons on
closing protocol. They had
started the practice of
changing gowns, gloves,
bovie tips, suctions tips and
instruments before closing.
We took what they did and added to it.
In addition to changing gowns, gloves and instruments, we
place a plastic wound protector — it goes in the body and looks
like the lid to a Tupperware container — in the patient's wound to
hold the skin back and keep the abdomen walls clean. We also no
longer allow instruments to be placed under the drapes when we
square off the surgical site.
And we built a "closing tray" — with input from a survey of our
surgeons — that includes 12 instruments to close a laparoscopic
colon resection or an open abdomen procedure. When we start
closing now, there is nothing left of what we used during the case,
everything is clean and new — gowns, gloves and instruments. We
haven't yet collected data, but we anticipate these changes will
help reduce our SSIs.
Jodi Rennie, BSN, RN, CNOR
Abington (Pa.) Jefferson Health
jodi.rennie@jefferson.edu
• CLOSING STATION All the things surgeons need to close —
fresh gowns, gloves and instruments — are ready at Abington
Jefferson Health.
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
A Closing Protocol That Reduces Infections
Jodi
Rennie,
BSN,
RN,
CNOR
Ideas Work
That
