HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): James W. Pate Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Pate, J. W. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Pate, J. W.

Ann Thorac Surg 1990;50:248-250
© 1990 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Articles

Risks of blood exposure to the cardiac surgical team

Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee-Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee USA

Accepted for publication March 1, 1990.

^_* Address reprint requests to Dr Pate, Department of Surgery, University of Tennessee, 956 Court Ave, Memphis, TN 38163.

The risk of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus from patient to cardiac surgical team is perceived by most people to be very slight, yet the possibility is a valid concern. The feasibility of "barrier protection" in prevention of this risk is dependent on integrity of surgical gloves and absence of splashes of body fluids into eyes and broken skin. These factors were observed and recorded in 50 coronary bypass operations and 17 valve replacements. There was a high risk of glove penetrations (one to two per team member per operation) and of skin punctures, lacerations, or eye splashes (from 0.4 to 1.5 instances per operation). Better gloves and more self-defensive surgical techniques are indicated.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C.-A. Mestres, J. E. Chuquiure, X. Claramonte, J. Munoz, N. Benito, M. A. Castro, J. L. Pomar, and J. M. Miro Long-term results after cardiac surgery in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) Eur J Cardiothorac Surg, June 1, 2003; 23(6): 1007 - 1016. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Pate Glove punctures in cardiac surgery Ann. Thorac. Surg., May 1, 2002; 75(5): 1680 - 1681. [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. S. Wong, V. K. Young, A. Youhana, and J. E. Wright Surgical glove punctures during cardiac operations Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 1993; 56(1): 108 - 110. [Abstract] [PDF]

				W. C. Beck Glove Tears and Sharp Injuries in Surgical Personnel JAMA, February 19, 1992; 267(7): 934 - 934. [Abstract] [PDF]