ABSTRACT
Successful outcomes in surgery depend on knowledge, skills and judgement. Patient safety is of paramount importance. The safe transfer and positioning of the patient is a responsibility that is shared by the anaesthetist, surgeon, nurse and operating department practitioners. Left or right lateral positioning are useful alternatives to prone positioning in many circumstances, such as the drainage of perianal or pilonidal abscesses. Removal of piercings and rings from the surgical site is important as they often act as a nidus for infection. Draping is the process of forming a sterile perimeter around the operating site using disposable or reusable sterile sheets. Skin incisions are made using a scalpel with the blade pressed firmly down at right angles to the skin and then drawn gently across the skin in the desired direction to create a clean incision.
