Welcome to NWH Caesarean Section Theatres

The theatres that deal with all Obstetric cases are Theatres 1 & 2, although occasionally Theatres 3 or 4 may be used for an emergency case. Theatre 1 is dedicated to all acutes and multiple births and Theatre 2 is used for elective cases, but sometimes it is also used in the event of an emergency.

When you are required to come to the OR, in most cases you will not be required to scrub. However, as you are entering a sterile field it is important that you maintain a level of sterility and be absolutely aware of the sterile field.

 The recommendations are:

• All persons receiving the baby from the surgeon must wear a mask. These masks are located on the wall outside the scrub bay door (in the theatre corridor).
• All persons receiving the baby from the surgeon must wash their hands before donning a pair of sterile gloves. It is not acceptable to wear unsterile gloves when receiving the baby.
• Once you have put your sterile gloves on, you are not permitted to touch anything else. Please stand with your hands clasped together out in front of you and wait until the scrub nurse can drape a sterile guard over your arms and chest.
• Please ensure that you don’t stand too close to the sterile instrument trolley when the nurse does drape you with the guard; sterile instrument trolley’s have been contaminated during this process.
• All persons receiving the baby must be draped in a sterile guard, which the scrub nurse will drape you with.
• It is not acceptable to reach onto the sterile scrub trolley and lift this guard up yourself, even though you are wearing sterile gloves. 
  • The reason for this is that more often that not, your arms are uncovered and you skin will shed onto the sterile field.
• You are only permitted to touch the sterile field if you have performed the correct surgical scrub, & are wearing sterile gloves and a sterile gown.

As neonatal staff, the need to scrub and don sterile gloves & gowns is not usually a requirement, but there are some instances where this may be necessary:

• In the event of multiple births. It is preferable if both neonatal staff members present scrub and  don sterile gloves and gowns.
• If there is evidence of meconium and the baby will require suctioning on the operating field.
• If any baby suctioning is required in the acute case (placenta previa, placental abruption etc) it is preferable for the neonatal staff member to scrub.
  • The scrub nurse’s priority will be to deal with the mothers bleeding, instruments etc and will not be able to tend to any needs of the baby on the sterile field.
• Please consider a complete sterile scrub for all acute cases where it may be necessary for the baby to require immediate suctioning.

There is an ADHB policy governing the practices of the surgical scrub, as well as a policy governing the practice of donning surgical gloves and gowns. These policies are available to read and is the responsibility of all staff who work for the ADHB to become familiar with them.  Please be aware that not all hospitals have the same policies and scrubbing practices, but it is important that you become familiar with each hospitals different policy.  The ADHB requires you to follow their Recommended Best practices and Policies whilst working here.

• There is also a Nurse Educator available to assist you and teach you with scrubbing, gowning & gloving. The Nurse educator is available on Locator 93 4390 should you need help. Please call up in advance to set up a time to teach you these practices. 

 If you are bringing a Trainee Intern with you to the OR to assist, please ensure that they adopt the appropriate practices.

 If you have any problems at all, please don’t hesitate to contact the Nurse Educator.