Undergoing surgery requires careful preparation, and removing nail polish is a standard pre-operative instruction. While it may seem like a cosmetic detail, having clear nails before a medical procedure is essential for accurate patient monitoring and assessment during a vulnerable time. This guideline helps medical teams ensure patient safety and a comprehensive understanding of well-being throughout the surgical process.
How Nail Polish Affects Oxygen Monitoring
A primary reason for removing nail polish before surgery relates to the function of a pulse oximeter. This device non-invasively measures the oxygen saturation in a patient’s blood. A small clip is typically placed on a fingertip, where it emits and detects light passing through the tissue; the amount of light absorbed by the blood indicates oxygen levels.
Nail polish, particularly darker colors or opaque finishes, can interfere with this light transmission. The pigments can block or distort signals, leading to inaccurate or unreliable readings. Dark shades like black, blue, and green cause significant interference, potentially underestimating oxygen saturation by 3-5%. Gel and acrylic nails also pose a similar challenge, as their thickness and composition can impede the light.
Accurate oxygen saturation readings are important during anesthesia and surgery. They provide immediate information about a patient’s respiratory and circulatory status. A drop in oxygen levels, known as hypoxemia, can signal problems. When a pulse oximeter cannot obtain a precise reading due to nail polish, medical staff may lack timely data to detect and address potential complications, impacting patient safety.
Why Medical Staff Need Clear Nails
Beyond equipment interference, medical staff visually assess a patient’s nail beds for important health indicators. The natural color of the nail bed offers a quick way to check for proper circulation and oxygenation. A healthy nail bed appears pink due to good blood flow. A bluish discoloration, medically termed cyanosis, indicates low oxygen levels.
Nail polish obscures this visual cue, preventing staff from noticing subtle changes in oxygenation. In emergency situations, quickly assessing this sign is valuable; needing to remove polish could delay assessments or interventions.
A less common concern is the potential for nail polish, especially if chipped, to harbor bacteria. While direct evidence linking polish to surgical site infections is limited, maintaining a sterile environment is paramount. Chipped polish could theoretically shed particles or harbor microorganisms, presenting a hygiene consideration.
What Patients Need to Do Before Surgery
Patients scheduled for surgery should remove all nail polish from both their fingernails and toenails before arriving at the hospital. This includes standard polish, as well as gel, shellac, and acrylic nails. These artificial enhancements are typically thicker and more opaque, making them more likely to interfere with monitoring devices and visual assessments.
Clear nails allow medical professionals to accurately monitor blood oxygen levels and visually assess circulation throughout the procedure. If unable to remove polish, or if you have questions about specific nail enhancements, contact your surgical team beforehand. In some cases, removing polish from just one or two fingers, such as the index fingers where pulse oximeters are often placed, may be sufficient if full removal is challenging.