Vol. XII, No. 2Archive > February, 2011

So You Want to Become Latex-Free?

From top to bottom, how one facility rid its ORs entirely of latex in 3 short months — and how you can, too.

Caryn Solomon, RN

A red rubber catheter. Would you believe that that's the only supply that we couldn't find a latex-free alternative for when we converted our hospital-based surgical center to a latex-free facility in October 2009? The ENT doctor who used the red rubber catheter in his tonsil cases now uses a flexible suction catheter instead, so technically, yes, we're 100% latex-free. We switched everything from medication vials — although many of the rubber stoppers on vials still contain latex today — to Penrose drains to breathing bags for our anesthesia machines to IV tourniquets to gloves.

 
Have an account? Please sign in:
Email Address:
Password:
Keywords:
Latex-Free; Latex-Safe; Louise DeChesser, RN, CNOR; Surgery Center; West Hartford Surgery Center; allergic; allergies; allergy; bandage; catheter; catheters; cefazolin; elastic; eliminate; gauze; gloves; hospital; latex-allergy; latex-free; latex-safe; latex-sensitive; no-latex; non-latex; nurse; powder; proteins; pulled; puncturing; sensitive; sensitivities; sensitivity; surgeon; surgical; syringe; tourniquets…... show all keywords
Latex-Free; Latex-Safe; Louise DeChesser, RN, CNOR; Surgery Center; West Hartford Surgery Center; allergic; allergies; allergy; bandage; catheter; catheters; cefazolin; elastic; eliminate; gauze; gloves; hospital; latex-allergy; latex-free; latex-safe; latex-sensitive; no-latex; non-latex; nurse; powder; proteins; pulled; puncturing; sensitive; sensitivities; sensitivity; surgeon; surgical; syringe; tourniquets…
DID YOU SEE THIS?
Illumination

Surgical Headlights Just Got Better

/_media/adv/web/images/2012/20120329_Arthrex_AR-300x250.jpg

Other Articles That May Interest You

Technology for Smoother IV Starts

Increase first-stick success with safety catheters and vein finders.

Covidien's Surgical Stapler Recalled, Discontinued

Duet TRS's staples caused injuries after abdominal, thoracic surgeries.

Minnesota Patient Safety Report Raises Concerns

Annual study sees more injuries and deaths, highlights need for fall prevention efforts.