[About a simple method to prevent accidents caused by changes in positioning in surgery: The transparent head drape]. / Le champ de tête transparent. Un moyen simple de prévention des accidents liés au changement d'installation en chirurgie plastique.

ABSTRACT

Surgical drapes are a physical barrier between the surgical team's sterile working space (the operating field) and the non-sterile environment of the anaesthesia team and the nursing team within the operating theatre. Once the patient's position has been checked and the skin preparation has been done, they are put in place. They are usually opaque, leaving visible just the areas where the surgical and anaesthesia teams will be working. When the patient's position is changed perioperatively, malpositions may be unnoticed and cause complications. Using a transparent head drape allows one to check the position of the head and upper limbs at all times, thus reducing the risk of complications. It is a simple, easy, economic, non-restrictive method which will produce an improvement in the quality of patient care.