Minor Surgery Flashcards
What are common minor surgical procedures?
Procedures that can be safely performed in a physician’s office without general anesthesia.
What type of anesthesia is typically used in minor surgical procedures?
Local anesthesia, either through injection or cream.
What is an incision?
A surgical wound made by cutting into body tissue.
Must be performed by a doctor.
What is Incision & Drainage (I&D)?
Making an incision into an abscess to drain or to place a drainage tube.
An abscess is a collection of pus, WBCs, and bacteria.
What are the two types of biopsy techniques mentioned?
Incisional and needle
These techniques are used to obtain tissue samples for diagnostic purposes.
What must specimens be placed in to preserve tissue architecture?
Formalin
Formalin is a solution used to fix biological tissues.
How can a mole be removed?
By incision or by slicing flush with the skin
Both methods are used depending on the mole’s characteristics and location.
Define a laceration.
Jagged open wound in the skin
Lacerations typically result from trauma and can vary in depth and severity.
What is a puncture wound?
Deep wound caused by a sharp object
Puncture wounds can carry a risk of infection due to the depth and nature of the injury.
What is wound debridement?
Removal of debris and dead tissue from a wound
Wound debridement is essential for promoting healing and preventing infection.
What are the four types of wound debridement?
- Surgical: cutting away with scalpel & scissors
- Chemical: using compounds to dissolve tissue
- Mechanical: applying a dressing that sticks to a wound removing dead tissue when removed
- Autolytic: applying a dressing that helps body’s natural fluids to dissolve dead tissue
Each method has its specific indications and uses depending on the wound condition.
What is laser surgery?
Intense beam of light used to cut away tissue
Laser surgery is often used for precision cutting and minimal blood loss.
What safety precautions should be taken during laser surgery?
- Everyone wears safety goggles
- Be cautious of flammable material
- Vacuum hose clears away vaporized tissue
These precautions help ensure the safety of both the patient and the surgical team.
What is cryosurgery?
Use of extreme cold to destroy unwanted tissue
Cryosurgery is commonly used to remove skin lesions and lesions on the cervix.
What may occur after cryosurgery?
Large blister may form after procedure - do not rupture
The blister is part of the healing process and should be left intact.
What is electrocauterization?
Needle, probe or loop heated by electric current destroys target tissue
This technique is useful for removing growths and controlling bleeding.
What is a grounding pad used for in electrocauterization?
May need to be placed under the patient
The grounding pad helps prevent burns and ensures the safety of the procedure.
What is the first phase of wound healing?
Hemostasis
What happens during the hemostasis phase?
Bleeding is controlled
Blood vessels constrict and platelets along with clotting factors are activated.
What is the duration of the inflammatory phase of wound healing?
Lasts 4-6 days generally
Which cells are mobilized during the inflammatory phase?
WBCs (white blood cells)
What is the main purpose of the inflammatory phase?
Bacteria destroyed, remove debris
What occurs during the proliferation phase?
New tissue forms
What happens to skin cells during the proliferation phase?
Skin cells move together
How does the proliferation phase speed up?
If wound edges are approximated (brought together)
What is the final phase of wound healing?
Maturation phase
What is the maturation phase in tissue healing?
Formation of scar tissue
The layer of skin cells formed in the proliferation phase thickens and pushes off the scab.
What are cutting and dissecting instruments used for?
Have sharp edges used to cut
Examples include scalpels, scissors, and curettes.
What is the most common scalpel blade?
15 blade
Scalpel handles may be reusable or disposable, while scalpel blades are typically disposable.
What are the two types of scissors mentioned?
Straight or curved, blunt or pointed
Suture removal scissors have a curved lower blade and blunt tip, while bandage scissors have a blunt lower blade.
What is the primary use of curettes?
Used for scraping tissue
Curettes generally consist of a loop with a blunt blade on the outside and sharp on the inside.
What is the purpose of grasping instruments?
Used to hold surgical materials or remove foreign bodies
Examples include forceps and hemostats.
What is the function of clamping instruments?
Apply pressure, hold tissue in place, close off blood vessels
Towel clamps are also included in this category.
Suture removal
scissors:
curved
lower blade & blunt
tip
Bandage
scissors:
blunt
lower blade
the 3 Cutting & Dissecting
Instruments
-Scalpels
-Scissors
-Curettes
the 3 Grasping & Clamping
Instruments
-Forceps
-Hemostats
-Towel Clamps
What are forceps used for?
For grasping & holding objects
Forceps are often shaped like tweezers and may be hinged to lock in place.
What do Hemostats do?
-Most commonly
used
-Clamp off blood
vessels
Hemostats are vital tools in surgical procedures for controlling bleeding.
What is the primary function of towel clamps?
To keep towels & draping in place during a procedure
Towel clamps are essential for maintaining a sterile field in surgical settings.
