Patient Positions

Question 1

Supine

Answer 1

POSITION: Laying on back.
USED FOR: Abdominal, cardiac, and lower extremity.

Question 2

Lithotomy

Answer 2

POSITION: Legs raised and apart / lays on back w/ knees flexed or thighs apart.
PROCEDURE: Pelvic, genital, and urinary procedures.

Question 3

Lateral

Answer 3

POSITION: On side.
PROCEDURE: Thoracic, kidney and flank surgeries.

Question 4

Trendelenburg

Answer 4

POSITION: Head lowered (Patients head is lower than feet).
PROCEDURE: Pelvic and lower abdominal surgeries.

Question 5

Reverse Trendelenburg

Answer 5

POSITION: Head elevated (Patients head is higher than feet).
PROCEDURE: Upper abdominal and esophageal surgeries.

Question 6

Prone

Answer 6

POSITION: On stomach.
PROCEDURE: Spine and posterior neck surgeries.

Question 7

Sitting

Answer 7

POSITION: Patient sits upright.
PROCEDURE: Shoulder, posterior neck and cranial fossa procedures.

Question 8

JACKKNIFE (aka Kraske Procedure)

Answer 8

POSITION: Patient is flexed at the hips.
PROCEDURE: Colorectal, spinal and adrenal gland procedures.