How should a surgeon respond to drape lift or edge separation during a case?

• A. Ignore and proceed.
• B. Remove all drapes and restart.
• C. Retain sterilization by leaving drapes as is.
• D. Adjust and resecure drapes to re-establish a closed sterile field.

Answer: (D)

Preserving a closed sterile field and promptly correcting any breach in the draping is essential. When a drape lifts or the edge separates, the sterile barrier between the surgical area and non-sterile surfaces is compromised, increasing the risk of contamination. The appropriate response is to adjust and resecure the drapes so the field is reestablished as sterile before continuing. This may involve repositioning the drapes, reinforcing edges with sterile tape or clips, and confirming that the edges remain overlapped and secured with sterile technique. If there is any doubt about contamination, re-draping or re-prepping may be necessary. Ignoring the issue, restarting the case, or leaving the drapes as they are would maintain a breached field and heighten infection risk, which is not acceptable.