The primary reason for removing piercings during surgery is to prevent burns from electrocautery.
Electrocautery is a common surgical technique that uses electrical current to cut tissue or seal bleeding vessels. Metal jewelry, including piercings, can conduct this electrical current, leading to burns at the contact point. This is because:
- Electrical Arcing: Metal can create an electrical arc when exposed to the electrocautery current. This arc generates heat, which can cause mild to severe burns to the patient's skin.
- Interference with Electrocautery: The presence of metal can interfere with the electrocautery device's proper functioning, potentially leading to ineffective sealing of blood vessels or inaccurate tissue cutting.
- Risk of Dislodgement and Aspiration: Piercings could potentially become dislodged during the surgery and aspirated (inhaled) into the lungs, creating a serious medical emergency.
- Reaction to Cleaning Solutions: Certain piercing materials can react with surgical cleaning solutions, causing skin irritation or even corrosion of the jewelry itself.
- Compromised Monitoring: Piercings can obstruct the placement of monitoring devices, such as EKG leads, which are crucial for monitoring the patient's vital signs during surgery.
Therefore, removing all metal jewelry, including piercings, is a standard safety protocol to ensure patient safety during surgical procedures.
