Ideas That Work: Purple Haze

Share:

Why Would You Swirl a Marker Into a Clear Liquid?


purple fluid TO DYE FOR No one is going to accidentally inject purple fluid — in this case Afrin.

Editor's Note

A few caveats with this tip:

  • AORN says to label all solutions on the sterile field.
  • Surgical site markers are intended for use on skin only.
  • Although the solution is not being injected, it — and the marker dye — could come in contact with a patient's mucous membranes.

PURPLE HAZE
Why Would You Swirl a Marker Into a Clear Liquid?

When we have more than one clear liquid on the sterile field, including one that's not to be injected — usually a topical of some sort — we eliminate any possibility of a mix-up by swirling a surgical marker in the non-injectable fluid. That turns it purple and eliminates any potential confusion. An example: a nasal spray like Afrin, which is used during ear, nose, and throat surgery to improve visualization of the airway and to minimize post-operative bleeding.

Theda Kontis, MD, FACS
Facial Plastic Surgicenter
Baltimore, Md.
[email protected]

Related Articles

Wired for Success

In her 24 years as a nurse at Penn Medicine, Connie Croce has seen the evolution from open to laparoscopic to robotic surgery....

To Optimize OR Design, Put People First

Through my decades of researching, testing and helping implement healthcare design solutions, I’ve learned an important lesson: A human-centered and evidence-based...