Anaesthetists should wear gloves – touch sensitivity is improved with a new type of thin glove

Abstract

We have demonstrated that wearing extra-thin surgical gloves offers increased touch sensitivity. This may improve dexterity when carrying out delicate invasive procedures. Latex-free surgical gloves performed similar to standard latex gloves. Our findings should encourage more widespread glove use among anaesthetists.

Touch sensitivity with sterile standard surgical gloves and single‐use protective gloves

“…For the most common puncture, namely peripheral venous cannulation when inducing anaesthesia, the single-use protective gloves available at every anaesthesia workstation are usually used, which is contrary to the recommendation made by Kopka et al [7]. This simple type of glove costs approximately half the price of sterile standard surgical gloves and only about one-seventh the price of the sterile extra-thin surgical gloves studied by Kopka et al The latter are obviously intended for special indications.…”

“…Various authors and national societies have declared the use of sterile gloves to be standard procedure, although it is not always clear at what degree of invasiveness sterile gloves become a necessity [1,2,7]. Novak et al showed that wearing a single pair of surgical gloves and, even more so, wearing a double layer of surgical gloves, can considerably impair normal touch sensitivity [8].…”

“…Novak et al showed that wearing a single pair of surgical gloves and, even more so, wearing a double layer of surgical gloves, can considerably impair normal touch sensitivity [8]. Kopka et al, on the other hand, showed that touch sensitivity is reduced to a much lesser extent when more modern extra-thin surgical gloves are worn instead of standard surgical gloves [7]. The routine use of such special gloves is at odds with their high price.…”

Factors influencing the perception of roughness in manual exploration: Do medical gloves reduce cutaneous sensibility?

“…Various studies [4][5][6][7] showed that medical gloves increase the threshold force (i.e., reduce cutaneous sensibility). However, this method does not simulate the tactile exploration that is involved in many medical tasks.…”

Evaluation of cut-resistant sleeves and fiberglass fiber shedding at a steel mill.

“…Smooth gloves tend to increase grip forces to prevent slippage [Wimer et al 2010;Dianat et al 2012]. Textured gloves reduce the forces needed for grasping [Kopka et al 2005;Chang and Shih 2007;Laroche et al 2007]. Additionally, the masonry workers occasionally exceeded the NIOSH recommended weight limit of 51 pounds [Waters et al 1994], which could increase their risk of back pain, in addition to the risk of hand and wrist pain.…”