Ortho Flashcards
What kind of anesthetic plan can be used for ortho procedures?
Regional
General
combination technique
IV sedation
what is the anesthetic technique chosen based on?
-what type of surgery is the pt having?
-how long will the procedure take?
-does the pt have preferences?
-does the pts airway present any challenges?
-what comorbidities are present?
Who will evaluate the pt for the presence of infection (including MRSA) to prevent surgical site infections (SSI)
the orthopedic surgeon
What is the purpose of the pneumatic tourniquet?
- Maintains a relatively bloodless field during intraoperative blood loss
-aids in the identification of vital structures
-Expedites the procedure
What are the components of the pneumatic tourniquet?
-Inflatable cuff
-connective tubing
-a pressure device
-a timer
The tourniquet should not be used for ______
more than 2 hours
What size cuff should be used?
Use the widest cuff possible
(use lower cuff pressure to occlude the blood flow)
what is the minimum amount of layers of padding that should be placed around the extremity?
2
What should the tourniquet size be?
Half the limb diameter and the cuff should overlap 3-6 inches
-tourniquet size should allow placement of 2 fingers between the tourniquet and the cast padding
When possible, the extremity should be exsanguinated _____ to tourniquet inflation
When possible, the extremity should be exsanguinated prior to tourniquet inflation
How much pressure should be used for occluding blood flow in the upper extremity?
70-90 mmHg > SBP
How much pressure should be used for occluding blood flow in the lower extremity?
2x SBP
What are the neurologic effects caused by limb tourniquets?
-abolition of somatosensory evoked potentials and nerve conduction occurs within 30 mins
->60 tourniquet times cause pain and HTN
->2 hours may result in post-op neurapraxia
-evidence of nerve injury may occur at the skin level underlying the edge of the tourniquet
What are the muscle changes that can be caused by the tourniquet?
-cellular hypoxia develops within 2 mins
-cellular creatinine level declines
-progressive cellular acidosis occurs
-endothelial capillary leak develops after 2 hrs
What are the systemic effects of tourniquet inflation?
elevations in arterial and pulm artery pressure occur (usually slight to mod. if only one limb is occluded
What are the systemic effects of tourniquet release?
-Transient decrease in core temp
-transient metabolic acidosis
-transient decrease in central venous tension occurs, but systemic hypoxemia is unusual
-acid metabolites (ie thromboxane) are released into central circulation
-transient fall in pulmonary and systemic arterial pressure
-transient increase in end-tidal Co2
What is a non-pneumatic tourniquet?
-A silicone ring tourniquet (SRT) may be used for brief procedures
-Consists of a silicone ring wrapped in a sleeve, with 2 pull handles connected by straps
At the end of surgery, the silicone ring tourniquet is removed by cutting the silicone ring
These tourniquets are not electronic. Therefore, tourniquet time must be closely monitored.
what other pain is tourniquet pain similar to?
thrombotic vascular occlusion, and peripheral vascular disease (PVD)
when does tourniquet pain occur?
45-60 mins after inflation
what are the symptoms of tourniquet pain?
dull aching which progresses to burning and excruciating pain that may require general anesthesia
once pain begins- it is resistant to analgesics, and anesthetic agents regardless of the anesthesia technique
What are the nerve fibers responsible for transmitting pain impulses?
-Unmyelinated C fibers: small, slow-conducting fibers, responsible for burning and aching
Myelinated A-delta fibers:large and fast conducting, responsible for pinprick, tingling, and buzzing sensation
What wound nerve damage be caused by?
rupture of the Schwann cell membrane
How do you prevent post-op tourniquet paresthesias?
use of proper padding
-appropriate choice of tourniquet size
-following recommendation for appropriate tourniquet pressure and usage time minimizes the incidence of complications
How should a pt be positioned for ortho surgery?
-Optimal exposure of the surgical site
-Protect all body systems
-Enable appropriate monitoring throughout the procedure
-Provide good access to the patient’s airway
-Allow for comfort and warmth
-Minimize or prevent physiologic functioning compromise
-Protect all body systems.
-Maintain patient dignity
What are the benefits of arthroscopy?
minimally invasive
-reduced blood loss
-less post-op discomfort
-reduced length of rehabilitation
How is a pt positioned for lower extremity arthroscopy?
most often supine
How is a pt positioned for shoulder arthroscopy?
lateral decubitus or “beach chair”
What is the pt positioning for elbow arthroscopy?
supine
lateral decubitus
prone
What are the complications of arthroscopy?
-subcutaneous emphysema
-pneumomediastinum
-tension pneumothroax
-fluid volume overload d/t irrigation fluid
What are the signs and symptoms of a tension pneumothroax?
-Sudden, inexplicable hypoxemia
-Elevated central venous pressure (CVP)
-Tachycardia
-Absent breath sounds on the affected side
-Cyanosis
-Diaphoresis
-Decreasing oxygenation
-Tracheal shift
-Agitation (may be observed in patients receiving regional anesthesia)
-Hypotension
-Jugular vein distention
-Increased airway pressure
-Asymmetric chest wall movement
-Percussive hyper resonance over the affected side
-Extreme anxiety (may be observed in patients receiving regional anesthesia