Minor Surgery Flashcards
Preoperative
Before surgery
Intraoperative
During surgery
Postoperative
After surgery
What are some responsibilities of a medical assistant during minor surgeries?
- Prepare the treatment room
- Set up a sterile tray
- Prepare the patient
- Assist physician if requested
- Label & Collect specimen
- Monitor & Support the patient
- Clean up the treatment room
- Assist w/ Suturing
In practice, the ____________ is in charge of explaining the treatment & procedure to the patient, as well as________________________.
a. physician
b. expected outcomes, negative outcomes, risks of getting or not getting the treatment, side effects, etc
What are some tasks of a Scrub Assistant?
- Set up sterile field
- Assist physician w/ sterile procedures
- Assist w/ sterile gloves & gowns
- Handing instruments/supplies
- Draping patient
- Cutting sutures
What is a Float Assistant & their tasks?
They work outside the sterile field:
1. Obtaining supplies/equipment
2. Identifying/Labeling/Transporting Specimen
3. Adjusting the light
etc
Why is it important to know the roles of a float and scrub assistant?
They are positions a medical assistant may be assigned to during surgery.
How should you prepare the patient for surgery?
- Let them know their time of arrival
- Have someone drive them home
- Identify the patient
- Escort them to the room
- Position & Drape them properly
- Ensure they are comfortable
What does a surgical tray consist of?
- Scalpel
- Scissors
- Hemostat
- Needle Holder
- Sutures
- Syringe/needles
- Various gauge needles
*Note: most facilities will have a guide about a tray set up for certain procedures
How should a room be prepared?
- Confirm the room
- Clean & Disinfect
- Check sterilization dates
- Gather all materials
- Set up sterile field on mayo stand
- Open sterile packets, let them drop onto the tray
- Cover w/ a sterile drape
- Push mayo stand to the side
During minor surgery, a medical assistant may prepare the patient’s skin by ________________
- Shaving, if necessary
- Scrubbing/Rinsing the area w/ antiseptic soap
Forceps
Instrument used to grab tissues
Hemostat
Instrument used to stop bleeding in a vessel
Needle Holder
Holds needles for sutures
Towel Clamp
Used to hold towels or drapes
Suture Scissors
to remove sutures
Iris Scissors
Used for ophthalmic (eye) surgery
Bandage Scissors
to cut bandages
Metzenbaum Scissors
to dissect tissues
Hemostat
Instrument used to stop bleeding in a vessel
Scalpels/Blades
to cut, separate, or divide tissues
Anesthesia: Local & General
Local: administered in a nerve block or injection to reduce blood flow/bleeding
General: loss of consciousness
What are some alternative options to suturing?
Staples & Adhesive tape
Suture Material: Absorbable vs Nonabsorbable
a. dissolved by body fluids, used for internal organs
b. used for deep tissues to permanently hold, must be removed
Postoperative Dressing Instructions
- Dressing is kept dry
- Note any blood or drainage on dressing
- Note when the dressing was changing
- Describe the incision
- Properly clean area
Wounds: Open vs Closed
Open: a break in the skin where underlying tissues are visible (ex: punctures, incisions, etc)
Closed: trauma to underlying tissue with NO break in skin (ex: bruise)
Phases of Normal Wound Healing
Inflammation: blood serum & cells form a network of fibrin, a clot forms & brings the wound together, and a scab forms
Granulation (Fibroblastic): network of granulation tissues absorbs fluids, scar forms
Contraction (Maturation): small blood vessels are absorbed & fibroblasts contract; scar shrinks & becomes lighter in color
