The level of surgical gowns is mainly classified according to their protective performance, material quality, production process and other factors. The following are some common classification methods for surgical gowns
1. Classification by protective performance
Level 1 surgical gown:
Made of high-quality materials, with good breathability, waterproofness and antibacterial properties.
Reasonable design, ergonomics, comfortable to wear.
The production process is fine and there are no obvious defects.
It has complete functions, such as anti-static and anti-pollution.
Applicable to high-risk surgical occasions.
Level 2 surgical gown:
The material is slightly inferior to the level 1 surgical gown, but it still has good breathability, waterproofness and antibacterial properties.
Reasonable design and relatively fine production process.
The functions are relatively complete, but some advanced functions may be missing.
Applicable to medium-risk surgical occasions.
Level 3 surgical gown:
The material is general, and the breathability, waterproofness and antibacterial properties are relatively weak.
The design may not be reasonable enough, and the production process is general.
The functions are relatively simple and may lack some basic functions.
Applicable to low-risk surgical occasions.
2. Classification by the American Association for the Advancement of Medical Devices (AAMI)
Level 1: For use in situations where the risk of liquid exposure, spraying and splashing is low, and the pressure on the surgical gown is minimal.
Level 2: For use in situations where a small amount of liquid is exposed, and the risk of spraying and splashing is low, and the pressure on the surgical gown is low.
Level 3: For use in situations where there is medium liquid exposure, medium spraying and splashing risk, and the pressure on the surgical gown is high.
Level 4: For use in situations where there is a large amount of liquid exposure, high spraying and splashing risk, and the pressure on the surgical gown is very high.
3. Classification by material
Cotton surgical gown: Most widely used in medical institutions, with good breathability, but relatively poor barrier protection function. With the development of technology, waterproof and anti-static functions have also been well applied to surgical gown fabrics.
High-density polyester fiber fabric surgical gown: Mainly polyester fiber, it has certain antistatic, hydrophobic and antibacterial effects, and the wearing comfort is also improved.
Multi-layer laminated film composite surgical gown: It has excellent protective performance and comfortable breathability, and can effectively block the penetration of blood, bacteria and even viruses, but it is not widely popular in China.
4. Classification by purpose
Standard/ordinary surgical gowns: suitable for general surgical occasions.
Reinforced/high-performance surgical gowns: suitable for high-risk surgical occasions, providing higher protection performance.
Sterilized surgical gowns: sterilized, suitable for surgical occasions with high sterility requirements.
There are various ways to classify surgical gowns. When choosing surgical gowns, medical institutions should make comprehensive considerations based on the risk level of the operation, the comfort of medical staff, and cost-effectiveness. At the same time, the cleaning, disinfection and storage of surgical gowns are also important links to ensure their protective performance.
