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Do surgical gloves protect staff during electrosurgical procedures?
1Department of Pathology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City 52242.
Surgery
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Certain surgical gloves pose burn and shock risks during radio frequency electrosurgery due to low electrical resistance and dielectric breakdown. Surgeons must recognize high-risk situations to prevent glove perforation and injury.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Safety
- Materials Science
Background:
- Electrosurgery is a common surgical technique.
- Surgeons wear gloves for protection during procedures.
- Potential risks associated with electrosurgery and glove integrity are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the electrical properties of surgical gloves under electrosurgery conditions.
- To determine the risk of burns or shocks caused by surgical gloves.
- To identify factors contributing to glove failure during electrosurgery.
Main Methods:
- Tested fifteen pairs of commercially available surgical gloves.
- Assessed glove resistance to direct current and radio frequency current.
- Measured dielectric breakdown voltage of glove materials (latex and neoprene).
Main Results:
- Two glove pairs exhibited hydration-induced low direct current resistance (1500 and 5000 ohms), posing a shock/burn hazard.
- All intact gloves allowed passage of >0.75 A radio frequency current via capacitive coupling.
- Eleven glove pairs showed dielectric breakdown between 2200-2600 V; others ranged from 5800-7000 V.
Conclusions:
- All tested surgical gloves have the potential to cause burns or shocks under specific electrosurgery conditions.
- Glove hydration and material breakdown voltage are critical safety factors.
- Surgeons need awareness of high-risk scenarios to prevent electrosurgical injuries.