Medical procedure involving protective pad

1. A method of performing at least one surgical procedure comprising:

preparing a patient for a first surgical procedure;

making a first incision through the skin of the patient in accordance with the first surgical procedure;

exposing a target area for the first surgical procedure through the first incision;

performing a step of the first surgical procedure on the target area for the first surgical procedure;

placing a protective pad with a fluid pocket between a vulnerable anatomical part and the target area for the first surgical procedure;

closing the first incision in accordance with the first surgical procedure with the protective pad between the vulnerable anatomical part and the target area preparing the patient for a second surgical procedure;

making a second incision through the skin of the patient in accordance with the second surgical procedure;

making an incision in the protective pad;

exposing a target area for the second surgical procedure through the incision in the protective pad; and

performing a step of the second surgical procedure on the target area for the second surgical procedure, wherein making an incision in the protective pad comprises:

locating an area of an overlying portion of the protective pad that is adjacent to a blood vessel of the patient;

incising the area of the overlying portion of the protective pad adjacent to the blood vessel; and

retracting the overlying portion to expose a base portion of the protective pad.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein placing a protective pad between a vulnerable anatomical part and the target area comprises placing the protective pad between the aorta and the spinal column of the patient.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein placing a protective pad between a vulnerable anatomical part and the target area comprises placing the protective pad between the aorta and the vena cava of the patient.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein exposing a target area through the first incision comprises exposing a portion of the spinal column of the patient.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising, before closing the first incision:

routing a telltale between the protective pad and a location within the patient removed from the vulnerable anatomical part.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein routing a telltale comprises routing a radio dense telltale between the protective pad and the location within the patient removed from the vulnerable anatomical part.

7. The method of claim 5 , further comprising, after closing the first incision:

preparing the patient for a second surgical procedure;

making a second incision through the skin of the patient in accordance with the second surgical procedure;

locating the telltale;

following the telltale to the protective pad;

making an incision in the protective pad;

exposing a target area for the second surgical procedure through the incision in the protective pad; and

performing a step of the second surgical procedure on the target area for the second surgical procedure.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein retracting the overlying portion comprises:

placing a retractor through the incision in the overlying portion; and

retracting the blood vessel and the overlying portion with the retractor.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein making an incision in the protective pad comprises:

locating an area of an overlying portion of the protective pad that is between two vulnerable anatomical parts of the patient;

incising the area of the overlying portion of the protective pad between the two vulnerable anatomical parts; and

retracting the overlying portion to expose a base portion of the protective pad.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein retracting the overlying portion comprises:

placing a first retractor through the incision in the overlying portion;

retracting a first of the two vulnerable anatomical parts and a first portion of the overlying portion with the first retractor;

placing a second retractor through the incision in the overlying portion; and

retracting a second of the two vulnerable anatomical parts and a second portion of the overlying portion with the second retractor.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein:

retracting a first of the two vulnerable anatomical parts and a first portion of the overlying portion with the first retractor comprises retracting a portion of the right iliac artery and its branches; and

retracting a second of the two vulnerable anatomical parts and a second portion of the overlying portion with the second retractor comprises retracting a portion of the left iliac artery and its branches.

12. A method of performing at least one surgical procedure comprising:

preparing a patient for a first surgical procedure;

making a first incision through the skin of the patient in accordance with the first surgical procedure;

exposing a target area for the first surgical procedure through the first incision;

performing a step of the first surgical procedure on the target area for the first surgical procedure;

placing a protective pad with a fluid pocket between a vulnerable anatomical part and the target area for the first surgical procedure;

routing a telltale from the protective pad to a location within the patient removed from the vulnerable anatomical part; and

closing the first incision in accordance with the first surgical procedure with the protective pad between the vulnerable anatomical part and the target area.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising, after closing the first incision:

preparing the patient for a second surgical procedure;

making a second incision through the skin of the patient in accordance with the second surgical procedure;

locating the telltale;

following the telltale to the protective pad;

making an incision in the protective pad;

exposing a target area for the second surgical procedure through the incision in the protective pad; and

performing a step of the second surgical procedure on the target area for the second surgical procedure.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein making an incision in the protective pad comprises:

locating an area of an overlying portion of the protective pad that is adjacent to a blood vessel of the patient;

incising the area of the overlying portion of the protective pad adjacent to the blood vessel; and

retracting the overlying portion to expose a base portion of the protective pad.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein making an incision in the protective pad comprises:

locating an area of an overlying portion of the protective pad that is between two vulnerable anatomical parts of the patient;

incising the area of the overlying portion of the protective pad between the two vulnerable anatomical parts; and

retracting the overlying portion to expose a base portion of the protective pad.

16. The method of claim 12 , wherein exposing a target area through the first incision comprises exposing a portion of the spinal column of the patient.

17. The method of claim 12 , wherein routing a telltale comprises routing a radio dense telltale between the protective pad and the location within the patient removed from the vulnerable anatomical part.

18. The method of claim 12 , wherein placing a protective pad between a vulnerable anatomical part and the target area comprises placing the protective pad between the aorta and the spinal column of the patient.