An obligatory shot shows the surgical nurse mopping the perspiration from the surgeon's brow. To the director, this conveys the tension of the operation. But to actual patients, a sweaty surgeon may be trouble. A New Zealand study recently found that perspiring doctors left operating rooms contaminated with more bacteria than when they were cool and calm. The mock operations didn't use real patients, but the researchers say the findings may have implications for the way operations are performed.
Some surgical infections can be difficult to treat and they only add to the trauma of surgery.
A New Zealand Herald story suggests that a lowered temperature in the operating room can keep the surgical team dry. The patient could be kept warm using surgical blankets. For anyone scheduled to undergo surgery, Dr. Robert A. Catania offers a useful pre-op guide that tells patients what to expect and how to prepare for a hospital stay.