A draping routine usually begins with which item?

A draping routine usually begins with which item?

• A. Plain sheet
• B. Stockinette
• C. Fenestrated drape
• D. A towel or sticky drape

Answer: (D)

Starting the draping with a towel or sticky drape sets up the sterile boundary around the planned incision. This first barrier protects the skin, absorbs moisture, and provides a dry, clean surface to anchor the rest of the drapes. By establishing this perimeter, you create a stable, controlled field for subsequent barriers that expose only the surgical area. After the boundary is in place, a fenestrated drape is typically used to reveal the site, while stockinette might cover a limb and a plain sheet isn’t usually used to define the sterile field. So the towel or sticky drape being placed first is what makes the rest of the draping possible and sterile.

Starting the draping with a towel or sticky drape sets up the sterile boundary around the planned incision. This first barrier protects the skin, absorbs moisture, and provides a dry, clean surface to anchor the rest of the drapes. By establishing this perimeter, you create a stable, controlled field for subsequent barriers that expose only the surgical area. After the boundary is in place, a fenestrated drape is typically used to reveal the site, while stockinette might cover a limb and a plain sheet isn’t usually used to define the sterile field. So the towel or sticky drape being placed first is what makes the rest of the draping possible and sterile.