Patient Positioning Flashcards
Describe the supine position
- laying back flat on table
- face towards the ceiling
- arms flat on both sides
- legs not crossed, arms not crossed
Give examples of procedures that use supine position
Open-heart surgery, abdominal surgery, some pelvic procedures, face, neck, mouth, thoracic, some upper and lower extremities e.g. hand, wrist, foot
What are the supine pressure areas?
Occiput, scapula, olecranon, sacrum (+ coccyx), calcareous, ischial tuberosities
Describe the Trendelenburg position
- supine on the table
- head declined below feet approximately 16°
What are some procedures done In the trendelenburg position?
- Lower abdominal, gynaecological, colorectal
Why is the trendelenburg position used?
Gravity pulls intra-abdominal organs away from the pelvis allowing better surgical access and visuals to pelvic organs. Decreases blood flow to the surgical site.
What are the pressure areas for Trendelenburg position?
Occiput, scapula, olecranon, sacrum (+ coccyx), calcareous, ischial tuberosities
What is the reverse Trendelenburg position?
- supine on table
- feet declined below head
- (head and chest elevated 30°)
What are some procedures done in the reverse trendelenburg position?
- gallbladder, biliary tract, stomach, head, neck
What are the pressure areas in reverse Trendelenburg?
Occiput, scapula, olecranon, sacrum (+ coccyx), calcareous, ischial tuberosities
What is the lateral position?
- side lying
- patient laid on one side
- head on the side
- one arm on top of other
- one leg on top of other
What procedures use the lateral position?
- thorax
- kidney
- hip
What are the lateral pressure areas?
- ear
- ribs
- acromion process
- greater trochanter
- medial + lateral condyles
- toes
- malleolus
What is the kidney position?
- similar to lateral position
- legs slightly declined
What are the pressure areas for kidney position?
- ear
- ribs
- acromion process
- greater trochanter
- lilac crest
- malleolus
- lateral knee, peroneal nerve
