A study on the functional characteristics of polypropyelene nonwoven disposable opthalmic surgical drapes for better barrier protection and users comfort

Infections are the major concern for the causes of diseases in any eye surgical procedures at Ethiopia. Modern surgical are employed with latest technology to know how to cure the infections rather than far-sighted of spreading. Using medium like polyethylene surgical drapes in ophthalmic surgery has no potential source of wound contamination especially when wetted with blood or saline. The comfort level of these drapes is very less to the user groups. Also reusable drapes made from woven fabrics on the repeating wash cycles could alter the final resistance to barrier penetration. To improvise the comfort level of the users and to prevent diseases from the site infections, an appropriate design were developed in this research works to investigate about the functional characteristics of disposable surgical drapes made from polypropylene nonwoven fabrics integrating with polyethylene sheet. The significance of the surgical drapes was studied through the quality evaluation of structural and comfort properties. Comparison was made with existing surgical drapes made with woven fabrics. The chance of barriers penetration through nonwoven is less observed which offers highest protection as well as good wearing comfort than the woven surgical drapes.