What is the disinfection area for an abdominal incision?
May 17, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Li Feng
Introduction
If the patient is undergoing upper abdominal surgery, the disinfection area starts at the level of the nipple line and extends bilaterally to the mid-axillary lines. If the patient is undergoing lower abdominal surgery, the disinfection starts from the lower edge of the costal margin, extends laterally to the mid-axillary lines, and inferiorly to the upper-mid portion of the thigh. Specifically: upper abdominal surgeries generally include cholecystectomy and radical cancer resection; during disinfection, the area should start at the level of the nipple line and extend bilaterally to the mid-axillary lines.
The abdomen is divided into the upper and lower abdomen. For patients undergoing upper abdominal surgery, the disinfection area starts from the level of the nipple line and extends laterally to the mid-axillary lines. For those undergoing lower abdominal surgery, the disinfection begins at the lower edge of the costal margin, extends to the mid-axillary lines, and inferiorly to the upper-mid portion of the thigh. The details are as follows:
1. Upper abdominal surgery
Upper abdominal surgeries generally include cholecystectomy, cancer radical resection, etc. During disinfection, start from the horizontal line at the nipple level, extending bilaterally to the mid-axillary lines. Care should be taken to wipe from inside to outside in a unidirectional manner with decreasing strokes—avoid going back and forth repeatedly.
2. Lower abdominal surgery
Lower abdominal surgeries typically include rectal surgery, ureteral surgery, etc. Disinfection starts from the lower border of the costal margin, extends to the mid-axillary lines, and continues inferiorly to the upper-middle part of the thigh. Ensure that the surgical incision site is completely covered and extend the disinfected area at least fifteen centimeters beyond the surrounding region.
Due to the requirement for strict adherence to aseptic principles during surgery, it is recommended to perform disinfection at least three times to prevent inadequate sterilization, which could leave residual bacteria on the skin surface and lead to bacterial invasion, resulting in inflammatory infections during surgery.
