Preoperative skin testing of materials used in surgical procedures

Postoperative skin complications increase health care costs and cause patient suffering. In the OR, patients are exposed to materials with adhesive substances that have the potential to cause allergic or toxic effects on the skin. Intraoperatively and postoperatively, these reactions can result in skin complications. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence of skin reactions in connection with the application of different materials. Skin reactions after preoperative skin testing occurred in 3% to 50% of patients with atopic or contact eczema, allergy, or asthma in their medical history.