Randomised controlled trial of glove perforation in single and double-gloving methods in gynaecologic surgery

Abstract

Objective: To assess the value of double-gloving in gynaecological surgery.

Design: A prospective randomised controlled trial of glove perforation in single- and double-gloving methods.

Setting: Rajavithi Hospital between 1 September 1999 to 31 August 2000.

Sample: Eighty-eight (88) and 82 primary surgeons were selected at random to make up single- and double-gloving groups, respectively, while performing total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH) with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO).

Methods: The gloves were tested by immersion in water.

Results: The glove perforation rate was 6.09% and 22.73% in double-inner and single gloves, respectively, with this difference being statistically different (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the glove perforation rates in single gloves (22.73%) and in double-outer gloves (19.51%). There was matched perforation of the same finger of both outer and inner gloves in 1.22% of total double-inner gloves.

Conclusions: The double-gloving methods significantly reduced the risk of surgeons' hands contacting blood, when compared with the single-gloving method, in TAH with/or without BSO.