Functions of Detectable Gauze

Gauze, cotton balls, and other medical dressings are the most common and indispensable medical consumables used in wound care and surgical procedures. However, during surgery, medical dressings may inadvertently be left inside a patient's body due to negligence by medical staff. Retained medical dressings can lead to infections and affect postoperative recovery in mild cases; in severe cases, they may deteriorate into tumors, endangering the patient's life.

Radiopaque dressings can effectively show up under X-rays. After surgery, X-ray imaging of radiopaque gauze can immediately reveal whether any such gauze has been left inside the patient. The radiopaque function of these dressings primarily relies on radiopaque threads. Currently, most radiopaque threads available on the market are made by drawing a mixture of PVC and barium sulfate. The barium sulfate content in these threads determines the radiopacity of the gauze; higher content results in better visibility, making it easier for medical staff to detect any retained gauze within the patient.

However, during the processing and use of current PVC-based radiopaque threads, toxic hydrogen chloride gas can be generated. Some of this gas may escape from the radiopaque gauze, potentially affecting the patient's wound. Consequently, European and American countries are gradually phasing out PVC radiopaque threads. As medical standards improve, PVC threads are expected to be increasingly replaced by threads made from other biocompatible materials, such as polypropylene (PP), which are harmless to the human body.

There are two main processes for combining radiopaque gauze with radiopaque threads: ultrasonic heat sealing and weaving. Ultrasonic heat sealing offers superior stability, ensures a stronger bond with the gauze, and makes the thread less likely to detach when inside the body.