Patient positioning

Question 1

What is the most common position injury?

Answer 1

Compression to lower extremity peripheral nerves is the most common injury.

Question 2

What are the monitors for detecting VAE in decreasing order?

Answer 2

1) Doppler ultrasound
2) Inc end-tidal nitrogen
3) Inc end-tidal CO2
4) Inc RA pressure
5) Esophageal stethoscope

Question 3

Of all the monitors for detection of VAE what is both diagnostic and therapeutic?

Answer 3

RA pressure catheter (multi-orifice is preferable)

Question 4

What peripheral neuropathies are associated with cardiac surgery?

Answer 4

Brachial plexus

Sternal retraction and first rib fractures predispose to this injury.

Question 5

What is the most common perianesthetic neuropathy?

Answer 5

Ulnar nerve (Occasionally bilateral)
(6 weeks - 2 years)

Question 6

Pressure on the spiral groove of the humerus may result in what neuropathy?

Answer 6

Radial

Question 7

What is the most common eye injury?

Answer 7

Corneal abrasion
The relatively minor injuries are caused by direct pressure on the eye from face masks, surgical drapes, chemicals that touch the eye, and failure to administer ocular
protection.

Question 8

What are the common risk factors for postoperative visual loss? (2)

Answer 8

1) Spine surgery > 6 hrs

2) EBL >1-2L

Question 9

Which is more common anterior or posterior ischemic optic neuropathy?

Answer 9

Posterior