PACU - Exam 3 Flashcards
What is the immediate priority in the PACU once pt has arrived?
assess respiratory + circulatory adequacy
CRNA job in PACU once pt is delivered
-get O2 on pt
-check airway, ventilation, VS ( pt is our responsibility until monitors on AND status is ok)
-give report (allow RN to ask Qs)
-give suggested endpoints
-stay with pt until PACU RN “accepts” pt
Info to give during report (SHOULD BE VERBAL)
-pt name/age; cultural info/ contact person
-procedure done, surgeon name, anesthesia team
-Hx (acute + chronic, allergies, OSA, cognitive/sensory deficits)
-airway technique (ETT/LMA/current O2 or vent settings, etc)
-anesthesia technique (IA/TIVA/regional or local/GA/etc)
-drugs given (doses, last given, reversals, abx, fluids, pressors)
-EBL, UO, PONV
-labs + other events during case (low BP/HR, etc)
-DC criteria (physician will DC pt); anticipated issues; PACU plan (pain mgmt)
Things that can compromise the quality of your PACU handoff report
-multiple providers
-different communication styles
-loud environment/ distractions
-poor pt transfer prep
-production pressure from workplace
-lack of standardization
-not letting RN ask Qs
Things to check before and enroute to PACU
-upper airway patency
-hand over mouth
-chest rise
-precordial steth
-O2? (GA pts usually need some)
PACU RN/pt ratios
1:2 if pt stable
1:1 if pt in unarousable and has ETT or child < 8yr
How often are pt and VS checked upon admission to PACU?
-on admission
-Q 5 min x 3
-Q15 min after that
4 main causes of hypoxemia in PACU
-hypoventilation
-diffusion limitation
-shunt
-V/Q changes
Hypoxia
-respiratory s/s
-shallow, rapid respirations or infrequent respirations
-tachypnea / dyspnea
-O2 sat <90%
Hypoxia
-neuro s/s
-anxiety, restless, inattentive
-AMS/ confusion
-dim periph vision
-seizures
-combative (LATE)
-unresponsive (LATE)
Hypoxia
-skin s/s
diaphoresis
cyanosis
Hypoxia
-cardiac
Early:
-tachycardia
-increased CO
-increased SV
-HTN
Late:
-bradycardia, HoTN
-dysrhythmias
Key assessment points before DC from PACU :
-pain
-conscious state
-BP
-N/V
Most widely used scoring system in PACUs is
Aldrete Postanesthetic Scoring System
Aldrete Postanesthetic Recovery Score has 5 main components scored 0-2:
Activity:
0-can’t lift head or move extremities voluntarily/on command
1- moves 2 extremities voluntarily or on command and can lift head
2 -4 extremities on command lifts head w controlled movement (exception for pt with Bupivicaine block who can’t move extremity for 18hr, or previously immobile pts)
Respiration:
0-apneic, needs vent or help respiration
1- labored or limited respirations, may have OPA
2- deep breath and good cough, normal RR and depth
Circulation:
0-high or low BP ~50mmHg of preop BP
1- BP within 20-50mmhg of pre anesthetic level
2- stable BP, HR. BP within 20mmHg of preop level or 90SBP (pt can be released from anesthesia after drug therapy)
Neuro status
0-no response or only painful stim
1-responds to verbal command but drifts quickly
2- awake, alert, oriented
O2 sat:
0-sat<90% with o2 supp
1- needs supp o2 to keep sat>90%
2- can keep O2 sat >92% on RA
Which 2 systems of the body are assessed FIRST in PACU?
Respiratory and Cardiac
-THEN Neuro (not a head to toe!)
Most common cause of airway obstruction in immediate PACU phase is:
loss of pharyngeal muscle tone in sedated/obtunded pt
-not tongue, that is in PACU pts in general
In PACU pts in general, most upper airway obstructions are caused by:
the tongue
-falls back, occludes pharynx, blocks flow in AND out of lungs
Upper airway obstruction
-s/s
-snoring
-activation of accessory muscles of ventilation
-intercostal/ suprasternal retractions
-somnolent/ difficult to arouse
Upper airway obstruction
-risk factors
-obesity
-large neck/ short neck
-poor musc tone (residual sedation, opioids, NMBD, or NM disease)
-swelling (surg manipulation, edema, anaphylaxis)
Upper Airway Obstruction
-tongue obstruction releif
-stim pt to make them take deep breaths
-reposition airway w jaw thrust/ chin lift (CPAP if necessary 10-15cmH2O)
-OPA/nasal airway (nasal tolerated BETTER, less likely to gag/vomit)
-reintubate if needed
T/F Laryngospasms occur when one set of muscles contract and force the glottis closed
false,
-this could be partial or complete and from the intrinsic and extrinsic muscles acting
-glottic closure is typically partial obstruction and laryngeal closure elicits a complete obstruction
During a laryngospasm, a glottic closure results from the _ muscles and the laryngeal closure results from the _ muscles.
glottic- intrinsic - intermittent obstruction
laryngeal - extrinsic- complete obstruction
What can cause a laryngospasm?
-airway irritation
-laryngoscopy
-vomiting
-blood/secretions
-artificial airway placement
-coughing
-bronchospasm (double spasm?? no thanks!!)
-frequent suctioning