Perioperative #2 Flashcards
Postoperative Care
Begins with the admission of the client to perianesthesia care unit (PACU) and ends when healing is complete
Documentation/Report During Transfer of Client from Post Anesthesia Care Unit to Clinical Unit
- Time of Client’s return to room
- Detailed Assessment of: baseline VS, airway and breath sounds, level of consciousness and movement of extremities, color and appearance of skin, urinary status, bowel status, IV infusion, CMS check results if regional anesthesia
- Immediate measures carried out
What determines when a client is sufficiently recovered from general anesthesia so they can be discharged to the clinical unit?
- Patient awake (or baseline)
- VS baseline or stable
- No excess bleeding or drainage
- No resp. depression
- O2 sat >90%
- Report given
What additional discharge criteria must be met to discharge an ambulatory surgery client home directly from PACU?
- All PACU discharge criteria met
- No IV opioid drugs for last 30 minutes
- Minimal N/V
- Voided
- Able to ambulate if age appropriate and not contraindicated
- Responsible adult present to accompany patient
- Written discharge instructions given and understood
Postoperative Care
Begins with the admission of the client to Perianesthesia Care Unit (PACU) and ends when healing is complete
What VS changes will occur with hemorrhage?
DECREASE BP, INCREASE thready pulse, INCREASE RR, Cool, Clammy skin and pallor, Bright Red Blood on dressing/surgical site
Why do you monitor for changes in mental status, such as restlessness and a sense of impending doom?
Indicator of inadequate cerebral perfusion
How long will hemorrhage usually happen after surgery?
Within 48 hours of surgery. Neck, throat, and bladder surgeries require careful assessment of the client for bleeding
Why do you monitor hematocrit and hemoglobin levels?
Decrease indicates hemorrhage but may take 1-2 days to show decrease in values
Why do you monitor platelet levels and coagulation function tests?
Platelet level decreases may indicate bleeding tendencies. Coagulation function test elevations may indicate bleeding tendencies.
Tonsillectory and Adenoidectomy Hemorrhage assessment
- Continuous swalling and trickling blood
- Pallor
- Vomiting bright red blood
- Hemorrhage VS changes
Thyroidedctomy Hemorrhage Assessment Data
- Irregular breathing
- Frequent Swallowing
- Sensations of fullness at the incision site
- Choking
- Bleeding on the anterior or posterior dressing
- Hemorrhage VS changes
Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP)
- Bright Red Urine or Large Clots
- Hemorrhage VS changes
General Hemorrhage Management
- Identify source of hemorrhage
- Control Blood Loss
- Fluid Replacement to correct hypovolemia
- Blood volume replacement
Thyroidectomy Commonly Occuring Nursing Dx
- Acute pain r/t neck surgical incision
- Ineffective airway clearance r/t poor cough mechanism
- Risk for bleeding r/t possible incisional dehiscence
- Risk for injury r/t possible tissue damage/removal (parathyroid)
- Deficient Knowledge: postoperative care r/t lack of exposure
Thyroidectomy Discharge Teaching
- Chills/Fever greater than 100F or 38C
- Increasing difficulty breathing or SOB
- Cleanse skin around incision with mild soap and water
- Keep dressing dry and intact
- Remove dressing prior to showering and replace with a clean dressing after
- Marked increase in drainage, swelling, tenderness, fever or if drainage foul smelling, notify MD
Thyroidectomy TNIs
- Assess q2h X 24 hours for signs of hemorrhage or tracheal compression such as irregular breathing, neck swelling, frequent swallowing, sensations of fullness at the incision site, chocking, blood on anterior or posterior dressing
- Control postoperative pain by giving ordered pain medication
- Place client in semi-fowler’s position and support the head with pillows to avoid flexion of the neck and any tension on suture lines
- Assess VS and check for tetany (tingling toes, fingers, or around the mouth, muscular twitching, apprehension
- Apply ice collar prn
Tetany
tingling toes, fingers
Hypotension
Evidenced by signs of hypoperfusion to the vital organs, esp. the brain, heart, and kidneys. Disorientation, loss of consciousness, chest pain, and oliguria.
What is the most common cause of hypotension in the PACU?
unreplaced fluid and blood loss, which may lead to hypovolemic shock
Transurethral Resection of Prostate Common Nursing Dx
- Acute pain r/t irrigations and clots, presence of catheter
- Risk for bleeding r/t possible incisional dehiscence
- Risk for infection r/t invasive procedures
- Deficient Knowledge: postoperative care r/t lack of exposure
Transurethral Resection of Prostate Discharge Teaching
- Bright red urine or large clots
- Difficulty voiding, frequency, urgency, foul smelling urine
- Chills or fever greater than 100 or 38
- Bladder spasms
Transurethral Resection of Prostate Follow-Up Care
- Intermittent small clots in the urine is normal for a period of 2-4 weeks
- Avoid constipation or straining during bowel movement
- Extra fiber and fluid will help prevent constipation
Transurethral Resection of Prostate TNIs
- assess patency of catheter because clots cause obstruction of urine flow resulting in bladder spasms
- irrigate catheter if occluded with clots so urine can flow freely
- instruct client to try no to urinate around catheter because this increases the occurrence of bladder spasm
- Teach client to drink 1-2 quarts of liquids per day
- Use stool softener per MD orders
- Teach foley and leg bag care if will be D/C with catheter
Transurethral Resection of Prostate Diet
- Well balanced diet
- High Fiber Diet
- Drink 1-2 quarts of liquids a day
Tonsillectomy Common Nursing Dx
- Acute pain r/t throat irritation
- Ineffective airway clearance r/t poor cough mechanism
- Risk for aspiration r/t postoperative drainage, impaired swallowing
- Risk for deficient fluid volume r/t throat pain, impaired swallowing.
- Risk for imbalanced nutrition: less than body requirements r/t hesitation to swallow
- Deficient knowledge: postoperative care r/t lack of exposure
Tonsillectomy TNIs
- Assess ABCs. Until fully awake, clients are placed on the abdomen or side to facilitate drainage of secretions
- Discourage clients from coughing, clearing their throat, blowing their nose, or doing any activities that may aggravate the operative site
- Food and fluid are restricted until clients are fully alert and no signs of hemorrhage
- Cool water, crushed ice, flavored ice pops, dilute fruit juice is given, but fluids with red or brown color are avoided to distinguish from fresh or old blood in emesis from the ingested liquid
- Sore throat is to be expected for approximately one week postoperatively
Discharge Teaching for Tonsillectomy
- avoid foods that are irritating or highly seasoned
- avoid use of gargles or vigorous toothbrushing
- discourage coughing or clearing of throat
- mild analgesics or ice collar for pain
- limit activity to decrease potential for bleeding
- call MD for excessive bleeding
Adhesions
Bands of scar tissue between or around organs
Contributing Factors Adhesion
Loops of intestine become adherent to areas that heal slowly or scar after abdominal surgery
Prevention Adhesion
Nasogastric tube not removed too soon after major abdominal surgery. Crampy wavelike pain, passing blood and mucus but no fecal matter and no flatus with vomiting should immediately be reported to surgeon. Surgery may be preformed to divide the adhesion to which the intestine is attached
Adhesion Assessment
- Bowel sounds
- Flatus
- Pain
- NG Patency
Fistula
Any abnormal tube like passage within body tissue, usually between two internal organs or leading from an internal organ to the body surface.
Fistula Contributing Factors
May be due to congenital incomplete closure of parts or may result from abscesses, injuries, or inflammatory process
Fistula Prevention
May result from infection that should be treated with antibiotics. Surgery is always recommended because few fistulas heal spontaneously
Fistula Assessment
- Temp
- Drainage
- Wound incision and drain
Abscesses
Collection of pus that is localized by a zone of inflamed tissue
Abscess Contributing Factors
Caused by specific microorganisms that invade the tissues, often by the way of small wounds or breaks in the skin. An abscess is a natural defense mechanism in which the body attempts to localize an infection and wall off the microorganisms so that they can not spread throughout the body
Abscess Prevention
Antibiotics should be taken as ordered. Small abscesses frequently drain and heal themselves. Larger abscesses have to be treated by a physician
Abscess Assessment
- Temp
- Drainage
- Would incision and drain
- Increased WBC
Atelectasis
A condition in which alveoli collapse and are not ventilated. Bronchial obstruction caused by secretions or inadequate lung expansion, analgesics, immobility
Assessment Data Atelectasis
- Decreased breath sounds
- Decreased Oxygen saturation
- Increased Tachycardia
- Dyspnea
- Increased Tachypnea