Why do you need to shave your hair during surgery

Surgery is a very important process. Patients start making various preparations one week before the operation, including supplies needed during the operation, wound care, some things that need to be used, as well as their usual diet or medication needs to be improved in a short period of time. After making these adequate preparations, they will also face shaving. So why do you need to shave during surgery?

1. Concept of perioperative period

Perioperative care is the process of preparing patients for surgery and facilitating their recovery after surgery. The perioperative period should begin when the patient decides to undergo surgical treatment. The preoperative period can be as short as a few minutes, such as a trauma patient being sent to the operating room within minutes; it can also be several weeks to clarify the complex condition and make adequate preoperative preparations. After the operation, comprehensive treatment measures should be taken to prevent and treat possible complications, restore physiological functions as quickly as possible, and promote the patient's early recovery.

The preoperative preparation of surgical patients is closely related to the severity of the disease and the scope of the operation.

Surgical procedures can be divided into three types based on the time limit of the operation:

① Emergency surgery: Traumatic intestinal rupture and other conditions require necessary preparation in the shortest possible time, i.e. rapid surgery. In extremely critical cases such as rupture of large blood vessels in the chest and abdominal cavity, emergency surgery must be performed against the clock to save the patient's life.

② Time-limited surgery: For various malignant tumor eradication surgeries, the operation time should be limited and should not be delayed for too long. Instead, preoperative preparations should be completed in the shortest possible time.

③ Elective surgery: After sufficient preoperative preparation, the surgery can be performed at an appropriate time, such as resection of lumpectomy and inguinal hernia repair. Before surgery, a detailed medical history, physical examination, special examinations, and a comprehensive assessment of the patient's relevant organs and other important organ functions and possible underlying conditions must be conducted.

2. General preparation

It is mainly suitable for those who need elective or limited surgery.

1. Psychological preparation Before surgery, patients will inevitably feel fear, tension, anxiety, or have various concerns about the surgery and prognosis. The diagnosis of the disease, the necessity and method of surgery, possible adverse reactions, complications and unexpected situations during and after the operation, postoperative treatment and prognosis estimation should be introduced and explained in detail to the patient's family or unit leaders to gain their trust and consent, assist in doing a good job in psychological work with the patient and eliminate his or her concerns. Regardless of the size, severity, or urgency of the operation, written informed consent procedures must be followed, including a surgical consent form, anesthesia consent form, etc., which must be signed by the patient himself or his authorized family members.

2. Physiological preparation

(1) Perform adaptive exercises for postoperative changes: including practicing urination and defecation in bed before surgery, teaching patients the correct coughing and expectoration methods before surgery, and stopping smoking 2 weeks before surgery.

(2) Blood transfusion and fluid replacement: For patients undergoing large or medium-sized surgeries, blood typing and cross-matching tests should be performed before surgery, and a certain amount of whole blood or blood components should be prepared. Patients with water, electrolyte, acid-base imbalance and anemia should have these conditions corrected before surgery.

(3) Prevention of infection: Before surgery, various measures should be taken to improve the patient's physical condition and prevent infection. Strictly adhering to aseptic technical principles during surgery, performing the operation gently, and reducing tissue damage are important steps in preventing infection. Prophylactic antibiotics are required in the following situations:

① Surgery involving infected lesions or incisions close to infected areas;

②Intestinal surgery;

③ Surgery that takes a long time and causes great trauma;

④ Open wounds, wounds that are contaminated or have extensive soft tissue damage, a long interval between wound and debridement, or a long time required for debridement or difficult to debride thoroughly;

⑤ Cancer surgery;

⑥ Surgery involving large blood vessels;

⑦ Surgery that requires implantation of artificial products;

⑧Organ transplantation. The methods of preventive application are:

① It should be used before bacterial implantation and started during anesthesia; ② The application time should be short, generally not more than 1 to 2 days after surgery; ③ The reason for extended use should be stated.

(4) Calories, protein and vitamins: Patients undergoing elective or urgent surgery should be provided with adequate calories, protein and vitamins through oral or intravenous routes for a period of time (preferably about a week).

(5) Gastrointestinal preparation: Fasting begins 8 to 12 hours before surgery, and drinking water is prohibited from 4 hours before surgery to prevent suffocation or aspiration pneumonia caused by vomiting during anesthesia or surgery. Gastrointestinal decompression can be used if necessary. For patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, liquid diet should be started 1 to 2 days before the operation. Patients with pyloric obstruction need to undergo gastric lavage before the operation. For general surgery on the stomach and small intestine, a gastric tube should be placed before the operation, and soap water enema should be done one day before the operation if necessary. If a colon or rectal surgery is performed, a cleansing enema or colon irrigation should be performed one day before the surgery and in the morning of the day of surgery, and oral intestinal antibacterial drugs should be taken 2 to 3 days before the surgery to reduce the chance of postoperative infection.