Overview

Towel clamps Backhaus towel clamp Edna or Lorna towel clamp

  • used to secure the drapes to the animal and ancillary equipment to the drapes

Skills to Practice

  1. wide-based tripod grip
  2. smooth opening and closing of the ratchet mechanism
  3. secure clamping of corners of drapes to "patient"

Basics

Towel clamps Backhaus towel clamp Edna or Lorna towel clamp

  • used to secure the drapes to the animal and ancillary equipment to the drapes to achieve a sterile field
  • variety of sizes
  • tips are curved to improve visability and allow the handles to lie flat on the patient

Backhaus Towel Clamps

Backhaus towel clamp
Backhaus towel clamp
  • wider grasping surface covered by multiple blunted teeth
  • used to secure ancillary equipment (eg. tubes) to drapes
  • provide secure hold without perforating drape
  • should not be used on skin as cause significant crush injury

Edna or Lorna towel clamp

Edna or Lorna  towel clamp
Edna or Lorna  towel clamp
  • wider grasping surface covered by multiple blunted teeth
  • used to secure ancillary equipment (eg. tubes) to drapes
  • provide secure hold without perforating drape
  • should not be used on skin as cause significant crush injury

Types of Towel Clamps

There are 2 types of towel clamps:

Backhaus towel clamp
Edna or Lorna clamp

Using towel clamps

  • holding towel clamp with wide-based tripod grip
  • efficient opening and closing of the ratchet locking mechanism
  • secure clamping of corners of drapes to "patient"

Practice:

  1. pick up and put down clamp using wide-based tripod grip until is natural
  2. practice opening and closing ratchet locking mechanism until smooth and quick
  3. cover each side of a pillow with a towel leaving an open square in centre - grasp 2 towels where they overlap at the corner with towel clamp penetrating the underlying pillow

Skills to master

Edna or Lorna towel clamp

  • held with curve pointing towards drape using wide-based tripod grip
  • usually position first at corners of draped area where two drapes overlap
  • penetrate both drapes and sufficient skin so doesn't pull through skin if drapes moved
  • plan placement so do not penetrate any vital structures or interfere with surgery
  • add additional clamps so drape securely covers unprepared skin
  • the tips are considered contaminated once penetrate skin
    • use new towel clamp if need to replace

Using towel clamps