EFFICACY OF DOUBLE GLOVING WITH A COLORED INNER PAIR FOR IMMEDIATE DETECTION OF OPERATIVE GLOVE PERFORATIONS

Objective: To compare the efficacy of double gloving with an inner col oured pair of gloves and double gloving with classic gloves, for promp t detection of perforation during a single standard operation. Design: Prospective, randomised study. Setting: Teaching hospital, France. Su bjects: 100 Consecutive patients with haematological malignancy or AID S, who were referred for implantation of a vascular access port. Inter ventions: Insertion of a central line with an implantable chamber unde r local anaesthesia. The use of double gloving with an inner coloured pair or with classic gloves was decided preoperatively by random alloc ation. Main outcome measures: Visual detection of one or more perforat ions on one or more gloves during operation, localisation of the perfo ration(s), and post-operative evaluation of the water tightness of the groves. Results: There were a total of 14 perforations of the outer g loves, 9 were detected during operation in the coloured inner pair gro up compared with none in the standard gloves group. Postoperative test ing showed that there were no undetected perforations in the coloured inner pair group compared with 5 in the standard gloves group. Conclus ions: Double gloving with a coloured inner pair is effective in the pe roperative detection of accidental perforations in surgical gloves.