Latex Surgical Gloves
Latex surgical gloves are the most popular gloves used by healthcare
professionals. Almost all surgical gloves are latex gloves though nowadays
synthetic ones are also available. These gloves are required when invasive
surgery is required. They are also used for radiological procedures. They
have been the glove of choice in many health care settings.
Size
Surgical gloves have always a precise sizing or numbered sizing, ranging
from from size 5.5 to size 9 usually and are made to higher specifications.
Latex surgical gloves: Features and benefits
Latex surgical gloves are sterile gloves and are used to prevent
cross-infection during the invasive surgery. Apart from their categorization
as natural latex or synthetic, they are further classified as specific use
or specialty gloves. The choice is based on personal preference and
procedure. The commonly used ones are standard white latex, powder-free
latex, orthopedic latex gloves.
Latex surgical gloves offer the perfect combination of
- Strength
- Elasticity
- Slip resistance
- Comfort
- Flexibility
- Durability
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Because of their significant thickness and durability, latex
surgical gloves allow the required sensitivity during the delicate
procedures and perform well in all high-risk, heavy-duty situations. These
gloves are manufactured in a slightly tacky texture which makes gripping
instruments and objects easier.
Growing popularity
The only drawback of latex surgical gloves is that as they are made from
natural latex rubber, a protein-based compound, that can cause allergic
reactions and irritations in some people. Due to the increasing rate of
allergy among healthcare professionals , there has been an increasing move
to manufacture surgical gloves made of non-latex materials like vinyl or
nitrile rubber. However, these gloves have not yet replaced latex gloves in
surgical procedures, because gloves made of other materials do not fully
match the fine control or greater sensitivity to touch that is provided by
latex surgical gloves. Moreover, synthetic gloves like nitrile gloves also
cost more than the price of their latex counterparts—a fact that has
prevented switching over to alternate materials in cost-sensitive
environments, such as in many hospitals and healthcare units.
