Intra-operative Flashcards
Why starve patients prior to surgery?
Reduce the risk of aspiration
What is the difference between group and save and crossmatch?
Group and save is when a blood type is identified and held, pending crossmatch if required. Crossmatch is when the blood type is identified and actually allocated to a patient.
How should you record the use of controlled drugs peri-operatively? (x5)
The dose, form and strength. The total quantity or dosage units of the preparation in BOTH words and figures. For instalment prescriptions (describes dosage intervals e.g. 10mcg/4hours), specify the instalment amount and instalment interval.
What are controlled drugs?
Mostly concerns strong opiates and amphetamine-like stimulants used for ADHD. They are controlled usually because they can be abused or cause addiction.
What are the ‘Five Steps to Safer Surgery’?
- Briefing: introduce team, their order in the surgical list, and concerns relating to staff, equipment, surgery and anaesthesia.
- Sign in: confirm patient/procedure/consent form, allergies, airway issues, anticipated blood loss and machine checks before induction of anaesthesia
- Timeout: before the start of the surgery, team member introduction, verbal confirmation of patient information, thromboprophylaxis, discuss surgical/anaesthetic issues.
- Sign out: before staff leave the theatre, confirm recording of procedure – instruments, swabs, and sharps correct, specimens correctly labelled, equipment issues addressed, post-operative management discussed and handed over.
- Debriefing: at the end of the list – evaluate the list, learn from incidents and remedy problems.
What is the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist?
- NOTE that it is Trust-specific. SIGN IN: BEFORE INDUCTION OF ANAESTHESIA. Led by anaesthetist; identify patient and verify consent, confirm surgery, check medication and equipment, review allergies and airway
- TIME OUT: BEFORE SKIN INCISION. Led by Surgeon. Make sure everyone introduces themselves, confirm patient details, comment on duration of operation, expected blood loss and special equipment needed, state ASA grade, confirm equipment sterility and discuss prophylaxis (VTE, abx), glycaemic control and patient warming.
- SIGN OUT: BEFORE THE PATIENT LEAVES THEATRE. Led by anaesthetist. Confirm swabs and instruments used, confirm correct procedure performed, analgesia/antibiotics/VTE prophylaxis prescribed, highlight concerns.
What is the purpose of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist?
Ensures pre-operative preparation, intra-operative monitoring and post-operative review
What are the different airway adjuncts/devices used peri-operatively? (x4) What are their indications?
- Oropharyngeal airway (Guedel): maintain a patent airway. Indicated for unconscious breathing patients
- Bag-valve mask: used in respiratory failure when a patient’s breathing is insufficient, or in respiratory arrest when breathing has ceased completely (apnoea). This creates a positive pressure for air entry. Oxygen reservoir allows for greater FiO2 (fraction of inspired)
- ET tube: to intubate a patient. Secure a DEFINITVE airway that prevents aspiration risk
- LMA (laryngeal mask airway/supraglottic airway/i-gel): not a definitive airway but used for airway maintenance during low-risk surgery
What is the anatomy of an ET tube?
Black markers tell you roughly where you should be against the vocal cords (in between black lines). Bevel tip contains Murphy’s eye (back-up hole if tip becomes occluded), markers indicate depth of insertion. Inflation cuff distally to secure airway.

What is the anatomy of a supraglottic airway?
PROXIMAL END: 15mm connector for catheter and end of gastric channel. The black line is a position guide for confirmation of insertion depth. MIDDLE PORTION: bite block (reduces the possibility of airway channel occlusion). DISTAL PORTION: epiglottic rest and non-inflatable cuff and distal end of gastric channel.

What is the purpose of the gastric channel in an LMA?
Allows for suctioning, passing of a NG tube, and facilitates venting.
What is the purpose of the epiglottic rest in an LMA?
Reduces the possibility of epiglottis ‘down folding’ and airway obstruction.
How do you size a Guedel?
Sizing is from angle of mandible to the side of the mouth.
How do you insert a Guedel?
Position in opposing direction to pharynx, and rotate across roof of mouth as you insert.
How do you insert an ET tube?
Use a laryngoscope to lift the tongue (lift the laryngoscope; do not adjust its angle or you risk breaking teeth) and visualise the airway. Visualising the vocal cords, insert the ET tube so that the two black lines fall either side of the vocal cords. Inflate the cuff with air (typically 10ml).
What can you use to assist with ET tube insertion?
Bougie
How do you use a bag-valve mask?
Do not squeeze bag fully – only 1/3rd AND slowly. Mimic your own breathing. Jaw thrust the mouth INTO the mask (not mask into mouth), and grip mask to create a full seal.
How do you insert an LMA?
Lubricate the posterior surface of the LMA. Flex the neck, lift chin and open mouth. Insert device and manually guide down the hard palate of the mouth until you reach the laryngeal inlet. Be aware of the tongue folding back.
How do you check for correct ET tube insertion? (x4)
Misty tubing, chest rising and falling, capnography shows breathing, cannot hear escaping air.
What is the risk of ET tube insertion?
Can cause trauma especially with cuff inflation.
Differentiate between indications for LMA and ET tube.
ET tube indicated in complicated patients such as elderly, obese and long procedures where you want to ensure that the airway is definite. Also in pronated surgery. Otherwise, igel preferred.
What is the importance and mechanism of preoxygenation prior to anaesthetic induction?
We pre-oxygenate patients on 100% oxygen so they can build a reservoir in their body. Our body uses 250mlO2/min. When we preoxygenate, we give patients up to 5L reservoir of O2, meaning they can remain on 100% saturation despite apnoea for up to 20 mins while we intubate.
When should you be more conservative with pre-oxygenation?
In gynae and ear surgeries, because bagging a patient has high incidence of N&V from pumping air into stomach.
How would you deal with bronchospasm outside of theatre (asthmatics)?
- Acronym: O SHITMS
- O2 – high flow O2 and gain IV access
- Salbutamol – nebulised, 2.5-5mg
- Hydrocortisone – 100mg IV 6-hourly or prednisolone orally 40-50mg/day
- Ipratropium – nebulised 0.5mg (4-6 hourly) + IV salbutamol if not responding (250 mcg slow bolus then 5-20 mcg/min)
- Theophylline/Aminophylline
- Magnesium 2g IV over 20 minutes
- In extremis (decreasing consciousness or exhaustion): adrenaline; nebulise 5 ml of 1 in 1000. IV 10 mcg (0.1 ml 1:10000) increasing to 100 mcg (1ml 1:10000)


