SKIN PREPARATION

Definition:

Skin preparation is the removal of as many bacteria as possible from the patient’s skin
through shaving, mechanical washing and chemical disinfection

Purpose:

Reduce the number of microorganisms in the field of operation.

Prevent infection.

Special Considerations:

To determine the area to be shaved, know the operation to be done, the organ involved
and its location and the proposed incision.

Practice modesty and provide privacy.

Ask the patient’s permission in cutting the eyelashes and hair.

Examine the area to be shaved for any signs of irritation or any abnormal conditions.
Report this to your head nurse.

Do not cut the patient’s skin.

In abdominal operations, pay particular attention to the umbilicus.

Shave the operative site the day or the night before operation.

Discard soiled sponges in your kidney basin borrowed from the ward.

In shaving, follow the direction of the growth of hair while the free hand exerts an
opposite force by pulling the skin to the opposite direction. This is done:

To make the shaving less painful

To shave off the hair thoroughly from the skin

If a wound is present on the area to be shaved, start from the clean area to the dirty area.

Equipment:
 Shaving tray with the following:

Razor with blade

Container with dry cherries or sponges

Container with cherries in liquid soap

Pick-up forceps

(2) Kidney basins

Procedure:

Assemble all the articles and bring to the patient’s room.

Explain the procedure to the patient.

Provide privacy.

Place a rubber protector under the patient.

Expose the area to be shaved 6-8inches from the probable line of incision.

Using the pick-up forceps, get sponges saturated with liquid soap and make a thick lather
on the skin staring from the probable line of incision going to the periphery.

Shave the area.

Clean the area with wet sponges.

Saturate again the skin with liquid soap and continue on shaving until the area is
completely devoid of hair.

Dry with sponges.

Areas to be Prepared:
Eye Operation – cut the eyelashes of the affected eye. This is done in operating room.
Use small straight eye scissors (Steven’s). Clean with alcohol and apply Vaseline.

Nasal and Sinus Operation – no shaving is done unless the patient has moustache, with
hairy face or hairy nose.

Ear Operation – shave 2 ½ inches around the ear.

Neck Operation – anteriorly shave from the chin down to the nipple line. Laterally shave
from the patient’s hairline to the sides of the neck including the shoulders and axilla.
Posteriorly, shave the hairline down to the level of the clavicle.

Chest Operation – shave from the base of the neck to the waistline including the axilla
and inner aspect of the arm. Posteriorly, shave from the shoulder line down to the
waist extending 2 ½ beyond the spinal column.

Abdominal and Pelvic Operations – shave from the nipple line down to the symphysis
pubis, vulva, perineum and the thighs 2 inches from the groin. Include the sides or
flanks of the patient.

Kidney Operation – anteriorly shave from the nipple line down to the perineum from side
to side posteriorly on the affected side, shave from the subscapular area down to the
buttocks and 2 inches beyond the spinal column.

Vaginal, Scrotal, and Rectal Operations – shave the waistline to the perineum. Include
the anterior and inner aspects of the thighs 6 inches from the groin. Posteriorly, shave
the entire buttocks. Pay particular attention to the hair between the folds of the
buttocks ans anus.

Lower Extremity – if the operation is in the distal portion, clean from the 2 inches above
the knee, all around the extremity to the toes. If the operation is at the knee or little
bit above or below it, clean the entire extremity from the groin to the toes. Pay
attention to digital spaces.

Upper Extremity – if operation is at the distal portion, clean from 2 inches above the
elbow to the fingers all around. If the operation is at the elbow or a little above or
below it, shave from the axilla to the fingers and all around the extremity.