Of necessity this is far more extensive than the requirement of a minor operation, and should be commenced the day before if possible.
The selection of the room comes first, and as an abundance of clear light is more essential than anything else in an operating-room, let the choice of the room depend on that. When possible avoid using a room into which the sun will shine directly during the time of the operation; but in any case, take the room that gives the most light.
When the house is large enough to allow it, and your choice is not limited, use a room adjoining, or at least on the same floor as the one to be occupied afterward by the patient, and as near the bath-room as possible.
Sometimes it is necessary to use your patient’s bedroom, in which case the bed, after being prepared, should be pushed up in a corner out of the way.
All the furniture that it is possible to remove is taken out of the room; any large piece that has to remain should be covered completely with sheets fresh from the laundry. Carpets and curtains must be removed, unless the surgeon prefers to have them covered with moist sheets, and the room thoroughly cleaned, floor scrubbed, windows washed, etc.
As the surgeon will need all the light you can give him, cover only the lower panes of the window with thin muslin curtains, cheese-cloth, or—what will answer the purpose equally as well and is ready at hand—a thick lather of soap rubbed all over the panes and allowed to dry, thus shutting off the gaze of outsiders without excluding valuable light.
The temperature should be about 75° F. and the room well aired beforehand, as no window will be opened during the operation.
A list of articles usually required for a major operation is as follows:
- Bandages.
- One strong kitchen table.
- Four small tables.
- Three common chairs.
- One fountain syringe.
- Three large basins and pitchers.
- One small basin and pitcher.
- One piece of rubber sheeting for table.
- Two slop-jars or foot-tubs.
- One gallon of hot boiled water.
- One gallon of cold boiled water,
- and always keep a kettle of water
- boiling on the stove.
- Antiseptic solutions as ordered.
- Alcohol.
- Safety-pins.
- Green or synol soap.
- Absorbent cotton.
- Sterilized gauze.
- New wooden nail-brush.
- Two dozen towels,
- and plenty of clean soft cloths.
This list is an outline of the articles usually required; the surgeon will supplement what is necessary for each particular operation, but when a nurse is called upon to prepare for an operation in a private house, where the conveniences of the hospital are not at hand, she will be thankful to have ready a list of the things that are indispensable. I well remember my first operation outside the hospital, and how difficult I found it to construct a modern operating-room from the limitations of a small country house.