General Surgery Flashcards
What is a clean procedure?
The operative procedure does not enter a colonised viscus or lumen of the body e.g. elective hernia repair
Surgical site infection entirely due to contaminants from the environment / surgeons - mainly S.aureus, with a rate of 2-5%
What is a potentially contaminated procedure?
The operative procedure enters into a colonised viscus or body cavity but under elective and controlled circumstances
SSI risk is from endogenous bacteria, with a rate of 10%
What is a contaminated procedure?
Contamination is present at the surgical site without obvious infection e.g. intestinal spillage due to penetrating injury
SSI risk is from endogenous bacteria, and stands at 20%
What is a dirty procedure?
Surgery performed where active infection is already present, e.g. abdominal exploration for intra-abdominal abscess and perforation
Infection risk is from already established pathogens and stands at 30%
What is rigid proctoscopy?
endoscopic examination of the anal canal using a proctoscope (direct vision)
What is rigid sigmoidoscopy?
Endoscopic examination of the rectum to the recto-sigmoid junction, using a rigid sigmoidoscope (direct vision)
What are the indications of rigid sigmoidoscopy?
Suspicion of colonic neoplasia Investigation of inflammatory bowel disease Biopsies under direct vision treatment of haemorrhoids Prior to any ano-rectal operation
What is flexible sigmoidoscopy?
Endoscopic examination visualising up to the splenic fixture
What are the indications for flexible sigmoidoscopy?
Colorectal cancer screening
Surveillance of previously diagnosed malignancy
Endoluminal stent insertion for strictures
pre-operative assessment before anorectal surgery
Haematochezia (passage of frank blood per rectum) requiring haemostasis
What are the indications for tube thoracostomy (chest drain)?
Pneumothorax
pleural effusion / empyema
Post operative (thoracotomy, oesophagectomy, cardiac surgery)
How is a tube thoracostomy inserted?
Inject LA to infiltrate skin and parietal pleura
make 2cm incision near upper border of lower rib (avoiding neuromuscular bundle) in triangle of safety
Blunt dissect to parietal pleura and then palpate lung with gloved finger to free adhesions
Insert drain and attach to underwater seal, suturing in to the chest wall
Apply airtight dressing and sit patient up to 45 degrees
Check position with CXR and repeat CXR daily
Drain should swing (change in fluid level of tube) with respiration and bile in pneumothorax
Where is the triangle of safety?
Between lateral border of pec major and lat doors, superior to the 5th intercostal space, inferior to the axillary border
What is a stoma?
An external opening in a lumenated organ
What is an ileostomy formed from?
SMALL BOWEL
Describe the features of an ileostomy?
Spouted - with prominent mucosal folds Tends to be on RHS Bilious contents of the bag One/two visible lumens If one visible lumen: end ileostomy
if two visible lumens: loop ileostomy
What are the indications of an end ileostomy?
PERMANENT - after removal of distal bowel
Indications: definitive surgery to remove colon in UC
What are the indications of a loop ileostomy?
TEMPORARY: reversed at a later date
indications: to rest distal bowel e.g in IBD
to temporarily protect distal anastomoses following surgery
To provide functional relief from severe incontinence
What is a colostomy formed by?
Large bowel
What are the features of a colostomy?
Usually flush to the skin, with flat mucosal folds
tend to be on the left hand side
Contents tend to be more faeculant
Again - can be loop or end
Which are more common, loop or end colostomies?
END - after a variety of large bowel operations:
After what surgeries might there be an end colostomy?
Hartmann’s procedure: temporary end colostomy after emergency large bowel surgery
Left hemicolectomy: may require temporary end colostomy prior to colo-colic anastomosis at a later date
Abdomino-perineal resection: surgery for rectal pathology, with removal of back passage and permanent end colostomy
What is a urostomy formed by?
From a short section of disconnected ileum, into which one or both ureters are directed after radical urinary tract surgery
Indistinguishable from an end ileostomy unless output can be seen
What is a gastrostomy?
Connection from the anterior stomach to the anterior abdominal wall
Often for stomach drainage or direct feeding
What are the features of a gastrostomy?
Narrow in calibre
Flush to the skin
usually in the LUQ and fitted with indwelling access devices
What is a jejunostomy?
Connection from the jejunum to the abdominal wall, for direct feeding
Appearances = same as a gastrostomy
What are the early complications of a stoma
Infarction / necrosis
Infection
High output from the stoma leading to severe dehydration
What are the late complications of a stoma?
Parastomal hernia: incisional hernia at the stoma site
Stoma prolapse: underlying bowel protrudes through the orifice
Stoma retraction: the stoma is drawn / pulled below skin level
Stenosis: narrowing of the stomal opening
What are the steps of examination of a stoma?
Ask if there’s any pain
palpate abdomen for any distension or tenderness
ask to cough - any parastomal hernias?
Observe surrounding skin: any signs of infections?
Determine type: siting, spouting and contents
Any signs of infarction, prolapse or retraction
Listen for bowel sounds below the umbilicus
State you would like to look at the patient’s fluid balance chart
What are the indications for urethral catheterisation?
Acute/chronic urinary retention
Output monitoring (in critical illness/perioperative patients)
Incontinence
To aid surgery
What are the contraindications for urethral catheterisation?
Urethral injury e.g. pelvic fracture or acute prostatitis
What size catheter is used for females?
12
What size Catheter is used for males?
14
How should a catheter be managed?
Clean catheter tube and site of entering the body twice daily
Change leg/night bag at least once weekly
Use appropriate leg straps / catheter sleeve to secure the catheter
Empty catheter bag when 2/3 full
What is the indication for suprapubic catheterisation?
Mandatory in patient with pelvic trauma and suspected urethral injury
Bladder must be distended to prevent peritoneal penetration, and the catheter is then passes over a tracer after Local anaesthetic infiltration
USS guided drainage may also be used