Abstract: A surgical drape including a clear plastic substrate which is substantially impervious to liquids. The substrate is positionable over a patient with a first surface of the substrate generally engaging the patient. The substrate has an aperture formed therein which affords access to a location to which an incision is to be made in the patient. The drape further includes an absorbent lamina which overlies a second surface of the substrate which faces in a direction opposite that in which the first surfaces faces. A clear plastic patch, also substantially impervious to liquids, is sealed relative to the substrate along a line encircling the aperture. The patch can have a hole, either initially provided at manufacture or created by a surgeon during the procedure, which is at least partially coextensive with the aperture.