The Protective Code in Surgical Gowns: From Fabric to "Invisible Shield"
Surgical gowns in the operating room are
never ordinary fabrics; they are "invisible shields" safeguarding the
safety of both medical staff and patients, and the evolution of their materials
embodies a century of medical wisdom.
Early surgical gowns were mostly made of
pure cotton. Though breathable and sweat-absorbent, they had significant
drawbacks: the gaps between fibers allowed bacteria to penetrate easily, the
blood stain penetration rate was as high as 60%, and they would shed lint that
contaminated the operating table. After the 2003 SARS epidemic, China finally
recognized this protective gap, and the national standard YY/T0506 promoted the
popularization of composite materials.
Today, the mainstream SMS non-woven
surgical gowns are known as "protective champions": their three-layer
fiber structure acts like a fine filter, blocking 99% of bacteria. After
triple-resistance treatment (resistance to water, blood, and alcohol), they can
repel blood and alcohol penetration, and their hydrostatic pressure resistance
is more than 10 times that of pure cotton. More high-end composite membrane
surgical gowns use PTFE membranes to achieve "dual advantages of water
resistance and breathability" — they not only block viruses but also keep
medical staff dry during long surgeries.
There's a science to choosing materials:
high-risk surgeries like heart bypass require reinforced surgical gowns with
antibacterial coatings, with additional layers on key areas such as the chest
and abdomen; for minor outpatient surgeries, polypropylene materials can be
used, balancing cost and basic protection. Even the color is a scientific
choice — green and blue, as complementary colors to red, can reduce doctors'
visual fatigue and help detect hair or debris in time.
From linen robes to intelligent
color-changing materials, every upgrade in surgical gown materials is a crucial
step forward in protecting the safety of medical staff and patients.
