Care of Surgical Patient Flashcards
Ablation
amputation or excision of any part of body; removal of a growth or harmful substance
Anesthesia
absence of sensation (an-without and - esthesia feeling/sensation)
Atelectasis
Collapse of lung tissues, preventing respiratory exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen
Cachexia
General illl health and malnutrition marked by weakness and emaciation; usually associated with a serious disease such as cancer
Catabolism
breakdown or destructive phase of metabolism, occurs when complex body substance are broken down to simpler ones; opposite of anabolism
Conscious Sedation
administration of central nervous system depressant drugs and/or analgesia to relieve anxiety and/ or provide amnesia during surgical, diagnostic, or interventional procedures
Dehiscence
partial or complete separation of a surgical incision or rupture of a wound closure
Drainage
free flow or withdrawal of fluids from a wound or cavity by some sort of system (such as urinary catheter or t-tube)
embolus
foreign object, quantity of air or gas, bit of tissue or tumor, or a piece of thrombus that circulates in bloodstream until it becomes lodged in a vessel
Evisceration
protrusion of an internal organ through a disrupted wound or surgical incision
Extubate
to remove an endotracheal tube from airway
Exudate
fluid, cells, or other substances that have been slowly exuded or discharged from body cells or blood vessels through small pores or breaks in cell membrane
Incentive Spirometry
procedure in which a device (spirometer) is used at beside at regular intervals to encourage a patient to breathe deeply
Incisions
surgical cut produced by a sharp instrument to create an opening into an organ or space in body
Infarct
localized area of necrosis in tissue, a vessel, or an organ resulting from tissue anoxia; caused by an interruption in blood supply to an area
Informed Consent
permission obtained from patient to perform a specific test or procedure
Intraoperative
pertaining to period of time during a surgical procedure
Palliative
designed to relieve pain and distress and to control signs and symptoms of disease; not designed to produce a cure
Paralytic Ileus
most common type of intestinal obstruction; a decrease in or absence of intestinal peristalsis and bowel sounds that may occur after abdominal surgery
Perioperative
entire surgical inpatient period occurring immediately before, during, and immediately after surgery
Postoperative
pertaining to a period of time after surgery
Preoperative
pertaining to period of time before surgery
Prosthesis
artificial replacement of a missing body part
Singultus
hiccup
Surgery
branch of medicine concerned with diseases and trauma requiring operative procedures
Surgical Asepsis
group of techniques that destroy all microorganisms and their spores (sterile technique)
Thrombus
of or pertaining to a clot
BENZODIAZEPINES
- Mindazolam (Versed, Valium, Ativan)
- Diazepam
- Lorazepam
- dose dependes on amount of adequate sedation necessary for surgery
- decreases anxiety and produces sedation
- induces amnesia
- monitor for respiratory depression, hypotension, drowsiness, and lack of coordination
OPIOID ANALGESICS
- Morphine
- Fentanyl Citrate (sublimaze)
- decreases anxiety
- allows decreased anesthetics
- monitor for respiratory depression, nausea, vomiting, orthostatic hypotension, pruritus
H2 RECEPTOR ANTAGONISTS
- Famotidine (Pepcid)
- Ranitidine (Zantac)
- reduces gastric acid volume and concentration
- monitor for confusion and dizziness in older adults
ANTIEMETICS
- Metoclopramide (Reglan)
- Droperidol (inapsine)
- Ondansetron HCI (5-HT3 receptor antagonist) (Zofran)
- enhances gastric emptying
- tranquilizer
- prevents postoperative nausea and vomiting
- monitor for sedation and extrapyramidal reaction (involuntary movement, muscle tone changes, and abnormal posture)
- instruct patient to report any difficulty breathing
ANTICHOLINERGICS
- atropine sulfate (atropine sulfate)
- Glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
- reduces oral and respiratory secretions to decrease risk of aspiration
- decreases vomiting and laryngospasm
- monitor for confusion, restlessness, and tachycardia
- prepare patient to expect dry mouth
ANTIBIOTICS
- Cefazolin Sodium (Ancef)
- Cefotaxime Sodium (claforan)
- Ceftriaxone (Recephin)
- bactericidal
- wound infection
- minimize risk of wound infection
- bactericidal
- bactericidal as perioperative prophylaxis
- if large doses are given, therapy is prolonged or pt is at high risk, monitor for signs and symptoms of superinfection, including abdominal pain, moderate to severe diarrhea, severe anal or genital pruritus and severe mouth soreness
- determine pt’s history of allergies
- if dosing continues, space drug evenly around clock
- advise pt to complete therapy
ADRENOCOTRICAL STEROID
-Methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrol, Solu-Medrol)
- adults: 10-250 mg (succinate) IV q 4-6hr
- Oral 2-60 mg in 4 divided doses
- IM 10-80 mg (acetate)
- decreases inflammation
- determine whether patient has hypersensitivity to drug
- determine whether patient has diabetes mellitus, and anticipate an increase in antidiabetic drug regimen because raised blood glucose level
NONSTEROIDAL ANTINFLAMMATORY DRUG (NSAID)
-Ketorolac (toradol)
- 50 mg/mL IM; 30 mg/mL IV push over at least 15 sec
- reduces intensity of pain
- reduces inflammation
- assess duration, location, onset, and types of pain patient is having
- evaluate patient for therapeutic response
ANTICOAGULANTS
-Enxoaparin Sodium (lovenox)
- produces anticoagulation
- prevents new clot formation or secondary embolic complications
- don’t give IM, but give subQ
- tell patient not to take aspirin or similar over-counter drugs
Heparin Sodium (Heparin)
- 10 units/mL to 15,000 units/500 mL subQ
- Heparin sodium flush syringes: 10 units/mL, 100 units/mL; vials (most use saline for flush)
- 10 units/mL greater than/equal to 100 units/mL; vials 10-100 units/mL
- cross-check heparin dose with another nurse before administering
- use constant rate IV infusion pump
- monitor patient’s partial thromboplastin time diligently
- assess patient’s gums for erythema and gingival bleeding; skin for bruises or petechiae; and urine for heamturia
Warfarin Sodium (Coumadin)
- 5 mg vials IM; 1-10 mg PO tablets or IV
- observe patient for evidence of hemorrhage such as abdominal or back pain, decreased blood pressure, increased pulse rate, and severe headache
- urge patient to not ingest alcohol or make drastic dietary changes
- if administration continues, urge patient to notify physician if he/she experiences block stools; bleeding; brown, dark, or red urine; coffee-ground vomitus; or red-speckled mucus from a cough
Effect of antibiotics during surgery
-antibiotics potentiate action of anesthetic agents. If taken within 2 weeks before surgery, aminoglycosides (gentamicin, tobramycin, neomycin) may cause mild respiratory depression from depressed neuromuscular transmission
Effect of antidysrhythmics during surgery?
antidysrhythmics can reduce cardiac contractility and impair cardiac conduction during anesthesia
Effect of anticoagulants during surgery
anticoagulants alter normal clotting factors and thus increase risk of hemorrhaging. they should be discontinued at least 48 hours before surgery. aspirin is commonly used medication that can alter clotting mechanisms
Effect of anticonvulsants during surgery
long-term use of certain anticonvulsants (e.g Phenytoin (dilantin), phenobarbital) can alter metabolism of anesthetic agents