All articles must be sterilized before use in procedure. All persons who touch sterile articles must be sterile. Non-sterile persons never reach across a sterile field. Draped tables are sterile only above the table level. Gown front is sterile only from waist to shoulder level.
Moisture causes contamination.
Gentle handling of tissues will help minimize postsurgical pain. Tissues should not be cut or separated without reason and tissue dissection is usually done along fascial planes. Exposed tissue must be protected from drying or contamination. Effective hemostasis and maintenance of blood supply allows visualization of the surgical field while preserving the total blood volume. Hemostasis is achieved by ligation, pressure, electrocoagulation and avoiding damage to major vessels.