What is the purpose of surgical drapes?

Surgical drapes serve a critical function in maintaining a sterile environment during surgical procedures. They create a sterile barrier around the surgical site, which is essential for preventing postoperative infections. By covering the patient and the surrounding area, drapes minimize the risk of contamination from non-sterile surfaces and personnel, thereby ensuring a controlled environment for the surgery. The use of surgical drapes aligns with strict protocols to uphold aseptic techniques throughout the surgical procedure.

While warmth provision, fluid absorption, and instrument organization are important aspects of the surgical process, they do not encompass the primary purpose of drapes, which is to maintain sterility.