Peri-Op Care Flashcards
Who needs special considerations when it comes to surgery?
- Pregnant ladies
- Diabetics
- Pts on steroids
- Pts with thyroid disease
- Pts with cardiorespiratory
- Pts with renal/hepatic disease
- Pts with neuro disease
Come back to this, its in the surgery oxford handbook
What are some urinary complications of surgery?
AKI
Urinary retention
UTI
How many criteria are there for diagnosing AKI?
3
What are the criteria for diagnosing AKI?
- ≥50% rise in serum creatinine from baseline within last 7 days
- Increase in serum creatinine by ≥26.5mmol/l within 48 hours
- Urine output <0.5mls/kg/hour (oliguria) for more than 6hrs
How many stages of AKI are there?
3
What is stage 1 AKI?
Creatinine 1.5-2 times the baseline, and oliguric for 6-12 hours
What is stage 2 AKI?
Creatinine 2-3 times the baseline , and oliguric for 12+ hours
What is stage 3 AKI?
Creatinine >3 times the baseline plus either:
- <0.3ml/kg/h for 24hours + OR
- anuric for 12 hours +
How can AKI be divided according to causes?
Pre-renal
Renal
Post-renal
Which class of cause of AKI is the most common peri-op?
Pre-renal
Give some examples of causes of pre-renal AKI
Sepsis Dehydration Haemorrhage HF Liver failure -> hepatorenal syndrome Intra-operative damage
Give some examples of causes of renal AKI
Nephrotoxins
Parenchymal disease eg glomerulonephritis
Give some examples of causes of post-renal AKI
Stones (at any level) Tumours Retroperitoneal fibrosis Acute urinary retention Blocked catheter Prostate enlargement
What are the steps in assessing a pt with AKI?
Hx Examination Bedside tests Investigations Imaging
On examination of a pt with AKI, what should we assess?
Fluid status
Bladder - palpable?
Catheter - is it draining?
Nephrotoxins on drug chart?
What bedside tests can we do when assessing AKI?
Urine dip
Bladder scan
Use sepsis tool to check for possible sepsis
What investigations can we do for AKI?
FBC U&Es ****Creatinine**** CRP LFTs Ca2+ Lactate (ABG)
When is imaging used for AKI? What do we look at?
In severe cases to look at kidneys, ureters, and bladder
Is AKI serious?
Yeah, its classified as an emergency situation
If pre-renal AKI is suspected, what is a good first step?
Fluid challenge - 250-500ml over 15 minutes and reassess, repeat as necessary
WRT fluids, in AKI what else should we monitor?
Urine output with a fluid balance chart. Escalate to catheter if necessary.
Ultimately, how is AKI treated?
Treat the cause and monitor
What are the 3 most common signs/symptoms of urinary retention?
- Little or no urine passed post-op
- Sensation of needing to void but being unable
- Suprapubic mass (dull to percussion)
Alongside clinical assessment, what is the most important investigation for retention?
Pre- and post-void bladder scan for residual volume
What could unstable renal function suggest in retention?
High pressure retention
How should retention be managed?
Conservatively for most patients as post-op retention usually resolves itself
Catheterise if not resolving, then TWOC. If failed TWOC, recatheterise and TWOC again in 1-2 weeks
What organisms commonly cause UTIs?
E. coli ***
Klebsiella sp. Enterobacteur sp. Proteus sp. Pseudomonas sp. Staphylococcus sp.
What symptoms are common for UTIs?
Urinary frequency, urgency, and dysuria
O/E what is common for UTIs?
Suprapubic pain
Pyrexia
Who should UTI be considered in?
Sepsis
Pts with delirium
Pts in acute retention
What shows up on a urine dipstick for a UTI?
Nitrites and leukocytes elevated +- blood
What is sterile pyruia?
Presence of elevated wbcs in urine without evidence of organisms
ie leukocytes without nitrites
What can cause sterile pyuria?
Inadequately treated UTI
STI
Renal stone
What are the basic steps in management of UTIs?
Ensure pt is well hydrated and has good urine output
What is the definitive management of a UTI?
Abx according to local guidlines
eg LNR - uncomplicated -> trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin
What should be done with a UTI in a pt with a catheter?
Change any long-term catheter in-situ in the presence of a UTI
What is subcutaneous emphysema?
A known complication of laparoscopic surgery. Air/gas enters the subcut tissues of the chest.
How can subcutaneous emphysema be identified?
O/E - Pt short of breath, “rice krispie” feel over chest when pt breathes.
Radiograph - If anteroir chest wall affected -> able to see leaf like outline of pec major. Other muscles/overlying structures can be viewed in an unusual way.
What is the recommended cut off HbA1c for pre-op surgical pts?
48mmol/mol (6.5%)
What is the recommended range for pre-op cap glucose?
6-10mmol
Why are we worried about glycaemic control in the peri-op period?
Hyper and Hypo glycaemia can affect healing, prolong hospital stays, and cause complications
How is hyperglycaemia caused in the peri-op period?
Body is under stress -> more catabolic hormones released eg cortisol, GH, glucagon
What can peri-op hyperglycaemia cause?
DKA or HHS
Post-op sepsis, endotheial dysfunction, cerebral ischaemia
Impaired wound healing *****
Why is hypoglycaemia in a surgical patient important to avoid?
It is hard to recongise when a pt is anaesthetised so if hypoglycaemic for prolonged period of time -> neurological damage
Also leads to poor wound healing
What does the management of diabetic pts peri-op depend on?
How there diabetes is controlled - i.e. is it well controlled, is it oral meds, is it insulin etc?
How should diabetics be managed for minor operations?
Oral-controlled - give normal regimen
Insulin-controlled - omit insulin on the day before surgery, monitor blood glucose every 4 hours, restart insulin once back on food
How should diabetics be managed for major operations?
Oral-controlled - omit long acting drugs pre-op. Monitor BS every 4 ours, if over 15mmol/L -> IV insulin
Insulin-controlled - IV insulin sliding scale when NBM. Restart insulin once oral diet restarts.
What % of all healthcare infections are surgical site?
Up to 16%
What is the rate of infection for orthopaedic procedures?
Less than 1%
What is the rate of infection for large bowel procedures?
Over 10%
How many statements are there about how we can prevent surgical site infections?
7
In terms of skin prep, what are 2 of the statements to prevent surgical site infections?
Don’t do hair removal unless required - if needed, use clippers.
Have a bath/shower day of or before surgery - some pts given antispetic wash
Other than skin prep, what do we do to prevent srgical infections?
Abx prophylaxis
Normothermia maintained pre-, during, and post-op
Give advice on wound dressing and care
What does abx prophylaxis choice depend on?
- Type of operation
- Mesh or prosthetic used
- Pt factors
- Length of procedure
- Organisms common to the site
- Local guidelines
What pt factors increase risk of infection?
ASA score more than 2
What is classed as a “clean” wound?
Ops where no inflammation is encountered, and resp, alimentary, and GU tracts aren’t entered
What is classed as a “clean-contaminated” wound?
Ops where resp, alimentary, or GU tracts entered but with no significant spillage
What is classed as a “contaminated” wound?
Acute inflammation is encountered, visible wound contamination
What is classed as a “dirty” wound?
Pus is present during op, prev perforated hollow viscus, or open injury for more than 4 hours
In general terms, what qualities should abx prophylaxis have?
Narrow spectrum, less expensive
When should abx prophylaxis be given?
Iv abx within an hour before skin incised, as close to incision time as possible
Half life should cover the operation
How long should we give abx prophylaxis for for arthroplasry?
Up to 24 hours
What are the different types of pain?
Nociceptive Somatic Visceral Chronic Phantom
What are the 2 different types of nociceptor fibres?
Aẟ fibres
C fibres
Which type of nociceptor fibres are the fast response ones?
Aẟ fibres
Why are Aẟ fibres faster than C fibres?
They are myelinated
Why do we give pain relief?
It’s the human thing to do!
Also reduces stress response
Allows for early mobilisation
Allows for deep breathing and coughing
Why is a reduced stress response a good thing?
Reduced sympathetic response and lower BP -> lower O2 demand -> reduced risk of ischaemic events and faster healing
Why is early mobilisation good?
Prevent DVT
Why is deep breathing and coughing good?
Prevention of atelectasis and pneumonia
How do we give pain relief?
According to the WHO analgesic ladder
What is the first step of the WHO analgesic ladder?
Non-opiod +- adjuvants e.g. regular pracetamol or NSAID
What is the second step of the WHO analgesic ladder?
Weak opiod with non-opioid e.g. codeine PRN
What is the third step of the WHO analgesic ladder?
Strong opioid e.g. PRN oramorph
What is the top step of the WHO analgesic ladder?
Loading dose of opiate (IV/IM)
What regional anaesthesia is available?
Spinal, epidural, peripheral nerve blocks
What is an epidural?
Continuous infusion
What are the components of Virchow’s triad?
Stasis, coagulation changes, vessel wall damage
How do we assess VTE risk?
Assess risk factors of VTE and risk factors for bleeding
What factors increase VTE risk?
It’s a long list
- Active cancer or treatment for cancer
- Age over 60
- Dehydration
- Critical care admission
- Known thrombophilias
- Obesity
- PHx of VTE
- Significant co-morbidity
- HRT
- COCP
- Varicose veins with phlebitis
What increases risk of bleeding, and therefore is part of VTE assessment?
- Active bleeding
- Acquired bleeding disorder
- LP/epidrual/spinal within next 12 hours or past 4 hours
- Acute stroke
- Thrombocytopenia
- Uncontrolled HTN
- Inherited bleeding disorder
What does unfractionated heparin bind to?
Anti-thrombin III
How do we give heparins?
IV or S/C
How quickly can heprain wear off?
2-4 hours