ABSTRACT
General anesthesia with muscle relaxation and endotracheal intubation are required for abdominal operations on children.
A variety of topical preparations are in use for removing potential pathogens from the skin in the operative field. Alcohol-based solutions evaporate rapidly, promoting heat
loss, and iodine-based preparations may irritate the skin. Aqueous chlorhexidine (Hibitane) has none of these potential disadvantages and has effective antibacterial activity. In newborn infants, the solution should be warmed. Excess fluid must not be used, as this may run under the patient, resulting in chemical or electrical burns, as well as promoting heat loss.
Sterile towels or drapes are used to provide a sterile environment around the incision. These are covered with a large, sterile, adhesive plastic sheet, which stabilizes the towels and also helps to keep the infant warm by reducing heat loss from the skin and by keeping the infant dry.
