Day 7: Triage, Systemic Disease, and Optimisation Flashcards
the challenge of triage
-TRIAGE—deciding on URGENCY of surgery
-ASA GRADING—taking into account patients baseline status
-OPTIMIZATION—Is it feasible? Is it necessary? Is it achievable? To what degree?
triage: red
Absolute emergency—requires theatre immediately
triage: orange
Surgery within 2 hours
triage: yellow
Surgery within 6 hours
triage: green
Surgery within 24 hours
triage: blue
Elective surgery
ASA grade: I
a normal healthy patient
ASA grade II
A patient with mild systemic disease and no functional limitations
ASA grade III
A patient with moderate to severe systemic disease that results in some functional limitation, but not incapacitating
ASA grade IV
A patient with severe systemic disease that is constant threat to life and incapacitating
ASA grade V
A moribund patient that is not expected to live for more than 24 hours with or without the surgery
ASA grade VI
A brain dead patient whose organs are being harvested
ASA grade E
If the procedure is an EMERGENCY, the physical status is followed by and “E”
24 yr old booked for emergency exploratory laparotomy for abdominal gunshot wound. No known medical history
ASA score
ASA score is 1 E
Triage code is RED
Safest decision begin resuscitation, proceed ASAP with surgery
74 yr old patient booked for removal of cataracts under GA
Longstanding hypertensive, ran out of medication 2 weeks ago
BP on examination ranges between 170/100 –210/110 mmHg
ASA score is II or III
Triage code is BLUE (elective)
Safest decision cancel surgery, optimise treatment, rebook
33 yr old patient has an acute asthma attack and trips trying to find their asthma pump
Booked for open reduction and fixation of an open ankle fracture
Asthma is usually well controlled, but patient recently developed an URTI
On examination the patient is still clearly wheezing
ASA is II (E)
Triage code is YELLOW (open fracture, risk of infection)
Safest decision?
Delay (but do not cancel) surgery resolve acute bronchospasm
Schedule surgery as soon as patient is stable
A previously well-controlled Type 1 diabetic develops appendicitis
Acute abdomen, unwell, hypotensive, becoming unresponsive
Blood sugar is 24 mmol/L in DKA (why?)
ASA score is II E
Triage score is probably ORANGE
Can one delay surgery and treat the DKA?
NO.
Must start resuscitation, and continue this intraoperatively
High risk situation
A patient with poorly-controlled, longstanding cardiac failure and angina is diagnosed with a dissecting aortic aneurysm
They require emergent surgery
ASA score is IV E (very high risk!)
Triage score is RED
No time to optimize
Balance of risk favours proceeding with surgery
Elderly patient with ischaemic heart disease and some functional limitation slips while getting out of bed and sustains a closed neck of femur fracture
They are scheduled for operative fixation of the fracture
They are stable in the ward, in some pain, and blood pressure is high (177/97)
ASA score is III E
Triage score? Probably GREEN fracture needs fixing, but not immediately life-threatening to patient
Enough time to optimise patient in 24 hours (analgesia, restart medication, get special investigations etc)
major comorbidities in anaesthesia
-cardiovascular
-respiratory
-renal
-endocrine
major cardiovascular diseases affecting anaesthesia
hypertension
ischemic heart disease
valvular heart disease
cardiac failure
dysrhythmias
hypertension
-common
-Associated with significant morbidity & mortality (CNS, CVS)
-End-organ damage may lead to the need for surgery and anaesthesia
-Anaesthesia may aggravate or precipitate hypertensive complications
How does anaesthesia typically affect hypertension?
Anaesthesia often induces hypotension, but in some cases, it can lead to hypertensive crises.
What are some potent stimuli during anesthesia that can induce hypertensive crises?
Potent stimuli such as laryngoscopy and intubation, as well as surgical stimulation, can trigger hypertensive crises during anesthesia.
What are common procedures during anesthesia that may trigger hypertensive crises?
Laryngoscopy, intubation, and surgical stimulation are common procedures during anesthesia that may trigger hypertensive crises
What is the term used to describe increased sensitivity to vasodilatation of anaesthetic agents leading to hypotension?
The increased sensitivity to vasodilatation of anaesthetic agents leading to hypotension is referred to as “alpine anaesthesia.”
What is characteristic of patients undergoing “alpine anaesthesia”?
Patients undergoing “alpine anaesthesia” are often volume depleted and may tolerate fluid or blood loss poorly.
How do patients undergoing “alpine anaesthesia” typically respond to fluid or blood loss?
Patients undergoing “alpine anaesthesia” may respond poorly to fluid or blood loss due to volume depletion.
How might low cardiac output during hypertensive crises compromise organ perfusion?
Low cardiac output during hypertensive crises may compromise organ perfusion, leading to organ dysfunction or failure.
How do anti-hypertensive drugs interact with anaesthesia?
Anti-hypertensive drugs may affect the depth and duration of anesthesia, as well as the hemodynamic stability of the patient during surgery. Their effects should be carefully considered and managed by anesthesia providers.
Interactions of hypertensive medication: diuretics
-fluid depletion
-electrolytes disturbances (esp K)
Interactions of hypertensive medication: B blockers
-bradycardia
-negatively inotropic
Interactions of hypertensive medication: Ca channel blockers
hypotension
Interactions of hypertensive medication: ACE inhibitors
-exaggerated hypotension (particularly under anaesthesia)
Hypertension risk evaluation: Treated and well- controlled hypertensives
normal anaesthetic risk
Hypertension risk evaluation: treat, uncontrolled patients
higher risk
Hypertension risk evaluation: untreated, uncontrolled patients
have the highest risk
Hypertension risk evaluation: diastolic BP > 120 for elective surgery
-BP control
-postpone for 2-6 weeks
assessing the hypertensive patient
-BP chart with regular BP recordings (trend0
-effort tolerance
-end organ function
-ECG and CXR to assess cardiac hypertrophy
principles of management
- optimise BP control if time allows
-continue anti- hypertensive therapy - good premed to minimise anxiety
-blunt the intubation response
-avoid >25% decrease in systolic/ mean BP
-adequate post op analgesia
How common is Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD)?
Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) is a common condition.