Exam 2- Positioning (6/15/23) Flashcards
What is the most common surgical position?
- Supine
Arm boards must be secure if in use.
What are initial physiological changes to be expected when moving from sitting to supine?
- ↑ Venous return
- ↑ Preload
- ↑ SV
- ↑ CO
- ↓Tidal volume
- ↓ FRC
Describe arm abduction positioning
- Arm out to the side, < 90 degrees
- Padded arm boards secured to the table and patient at the axilla
- The arms should be supine (palms up)
- Elbows padded and arm is secured with a Velcro strap
Describe arm adduction positioning
- Arm tucked alongside the body
- Arms held along the side of body via draw sheet under the body and over the arm
- Hand and forearm are supine (palms up) or neutral position (palms toward body)
- Elbows are padded
- May tuck one arm if surgeon must stand on side of patient
Complications of the supine position
- Backache
- Pressure alopecia
- Brachial plexus or axillary nerve injury if arms abducted > 90 degrees
- Ulnar nerve injury if hand/arm is pronated (palm down)
- Stretch injury when neck is extended and head turned away (brachial plexus)
What position is this patient in?
- Trendelenburg (head down)
Safety/general considerations with Trendelenburg position.
- Use a non-sliding mattress/pad to prevent the patient from sliding cephalad
- Avoid using bean bags or shoulder braces
- Consider making a mark at the level of the patient’s head on the sheet or pad so you can determine easily if the patient has slid
Pathophysiological considerations with Trendelenburg position.
- ↑ CO, ↑ Venous Return from lower extremities
- ↑ ICP, ↑ IOP, Facial Edema
- ↑ Intraabdominal Presure
- ↓ FRC and ↓ Pulmonary Compliance
- May need higher pressure in ventilated patients
- Risk of endobronchial intubation as abdominal contents push the carina cephalad
What position is this patient in?
- Reverse Trendelenburg (head up)
Safety/general considerations with Reverse Trendelenburg position.
- Use a non-sliding mattress/pad to prevent the patient from sliding
- Use a footrest or something under the feet to prevent the patient from sliding
Pathophysiological considerations with Reverse Trendelenburg position.
- Risk of Hypotension (↓ Venous Return, Venous pooling)
- Downward displacement of abdominal contents/ diaphragm (better ventilation)
- ↓ Perfusion to the brain
Name the positions
- Left Picture: Beach Chair Position
- Right Picture: Full Sitting Position
When will the patient be in the Beach chair position?
- Shoulder Cases
Beach chair position will have less severe hip flexion and slight leg flexion.
Describe the set-up of the full sitting position
- Head must be stabilized – taped to special headrest or rigid pins
- Hips are flexed < 90 degrees and knees slightly flexed for balance to reduce stretching of the sciatic nerve
- Feet are supported – prevent sliding
- Compression stockings/wraps to maintain venous return
- Keep at least two finger’s distance between the chin and sternum
Describe the set-up of the full sitting position
- Head must be stabilized – taped to special headrest or rigid pins
- Hips are flexed < 90 degrees and knees slightly flexed for balance to reduce stretching of the sciatic nerve
- Feet are supported – prevent sliding
- Compression stockings/wraps to maintain venous return
- Keep at least two finger’s distance between the chin and sternum
Sitting position risk
- Cerebral hypoperfusion and air embolism
- Pneumocephalus- accumulation of air in subdural space, pressure on the intracranial structure
- Quadriplegia and spinal cord infarction- hyperflexion of the neck
- Cerebral ischemia
- Peripheral nerve injuries (Sciatic nerve injury)