The requirement to remove artificial enhancements like acrylic nails, gel polish, or dark nail polish before surgery is standard medical protocol. This is a safety measure, not an aesthetic preference, ensuring the medical team can accurately monitor a patient’s well-being throughout the operation. These materials introduce significant risks by interfering with diagnostic equipment and potentially complicating the surgical environment. Patients are asked to comply with this requirement well in advance of their scheduled procedure.
Why Nails Block Oxygen Level Readings
The primary reason for removing artificial nails centers on the functionality of the pulse oximeter. This small device, clipped onto a finger or toe, measures the oxygen saturation in the blood. It operates by transmitting red and infrared light through the finger to a sensor, where the amount of light absorbed determines the percentage of oxygen-carrying hemoglobin.
Acrylic materials, gel manicures, and thick or dark-colored polishes absorb or scatter these light beams as they pass through the nail bed. This interference significantly skews the readings, often leading to a falsely low or entirely inaccurate oxygen saturation number.
Anesthesiologists rely on precise, real-time oxygen data to assess a patient’s respiratory status, especially under sedation or general anesthesia. Inaccurate readings can delay the recognition of dangerously low oxygen levels, which compromises patient care.
Material Risks During Procedures
Beyond monitoring interference, the physical materials used in artificial nails pose distinct safety hazards within the operating room. Acrylics are made from inherently flammable polymers. This presents a risk when electrosurgical tools, such as cautery devices used to seal blood vessels, are employed near the hands.
These tools generate intense heat and small electrical sparks. Although the risk is uncommon, the presence of flammable material could lead to an ignition event. Studies show that applying electrocautery directly to an acrylic nail carries a substantial risk of the material catching fire.
A secondary concern is infection control, as the space between the natural nail and the artificial material can harbor bacteria and fungi. These pathogens are difficult to remove completely, even with rigorous surgical scrubbing. This increases the patient’s risk of developing a surgical site infection.
Practical Preparation Steps
Patients should plan to remove all artificial nails and polish from both fingernails and toenails before arriving at the hospital. It is safest to complete this removal at home to avoid delays on the day of surgery. If a patient is unable to remove all the material, they must inform their medical team immediately upon check-in.
In situations where full removal is impossible, the team may allow one finger to remain bare for the pulse oximeter. If the preferred finger site is compromised, medical staff have several alternative locations for the monitor, including the earlobe, the toe, or the forehead. These alternative sites allow clinicians to obtain the necessary oxygen saturation data, maintaining safety protocols throughout the procedure.