Perioperative Flashcards
2 types of local anesthetic that are commonly used because they are rapidly absorbed and rapid acting.
Lidocaine and benzocaine
2 ways to improve accuracy of pt identification
2 identifiers
make sure pt gets correct blood in transfusion
3 steps in obtaining signature on informed consent
Verify
Notify and delay if necessary
Document
4 Classifications of Surgery
By body system
by purpose
by degree of urgency
by degree of risk
A clot that occludes blood flow to a portion of the lungs; usually a result of clot formation in the lower extremities, which breaks loose and migrates to the lungs. May also be due to venous injuries, hypercoagulable state, use of high-dose estrogen, preexisting circulatory disorders.
Pulmonary Embolus
A decrease in the frequency of bowel movements, resulting in the passage of hard stool. Usually related to use of opioids, immobility, inadequate fluid intake, or low-fiber diet.
Constipation
a technique in which the anesthetist places a tourniquet on an arm or leg and then injects a local anesthetic agent intravenously below the level of the tourniquet. The tourniquet is maintained at a pressure that limits venous return but continues to allow arterial circulation. The patient feels no pain in the extremity as long as the tourniquet is in place.
Bier (intravenous) block
Accumulation of urine in the bladder. May result from poor muscle tone as a result of anesthesia and anticholinergic medications, handling of tissues during surgery, or inflammation in the pelvic region.
Urinary Retention
Advantages of conscious sedation
Pain and anxiety are adequately controlled without the risks of general anesthesia. Recovery is rapid.
Advantages of General Anesthesia
The patient is unconscious, so she experiences no anxiety that might affect cardiac and respiratory functioning.
The muscles are relaxed, so the patient remains completely motionless during the surgical procedure.
Anesthesia can be adjusted to accommodate age, physical condition, and the length of the procedure.
If surgical complications occur, the anesthesia can be continued for longer than originally planned.
advantages of Regional anesthesia
Low in cost, simple to administer, and requires a minimal recovery period. It is especially suitable for minor ambulatory procedures.
Airway inflammation caused by inhaling gastric secretions (especially hydrochloric acid from the stomach) because of absent gag reflex secondary to anesthesia
Aspiration Pneumonia
Anesthesia is classified as
general, conscious sedation, regional or local
are elastic stockings that compress the veins of the legs and increase venous return to the heart (Fig. 40-1). They may be applied preoperatively to prevent venous pooling during surgery and decrease the risk of thrombus formation. Along with prophylactic medications (antithrombotics), antiembolism stockings aid in the prevention of DVT and PE.
Antiembolism Stockings These are also referred to as thromboembolic disorder hose (or “T.E.D. hose”).
are serious and costly errors resulting in severe consequences for the patient, and that are mostly preventable.
Never events
begins when the client enters the postanesthesia care unit and ends when he has healed from the surgical procedure.
postoperative phase
begins when the patient enters the operating suite and ends when she is admitted to the postanesthesia care unit.
intraoperative phas
begins with the client’s decision to have surgery and ends when he enters the operating room.
preoperative phase
Benefits of adequate pain management are
arly mobilization, shorter hospital stay, reduced hospital costs, and increased patient satisfaction.
Bleeding may be internal or external. May be caused by slipped ligature, uncontrolled bleeder, or infection.
Hemorrhage
Blood clot and inflammation of a vein or artery, usually in the legs. Results from increased coagulability and venous stasis due to immobility during and after surgery.
Thrombophlebitis
Body System examples
GI
Respiratory
Cardiac
GU
By purpose surgery examples
Ablative - removal of diseased body part
Diagnostic/exploratory - confirm or rule out diagnosis
Palliative - to relie discomfort w/o cure
reconstructive - to restore function
cosmetic - improve appearance
transplant - replaces a part
procurement - act of harvesting from someone to transplant into another
can be used as a surgical anesthetic and to provide postoperative analgesia
Epidural Anesthesia
Collapse of alveoli due to hypoventilation, airways blocked by mucous plugs, opioid analgesics, immobility
Atelectasis
Decreased blood volume. May be due to blood loss during and after surgery; dehydration; or excess loss through vomiting, diarrhea, or drains.
Hypovolemia
Decreased or absent urine output due to hypovolemia, shock, or toxic reaction to medications
Renal Failure
Degree of Risk: associated with a high degree of risk, for example, the potential for significant blood loss, a prolonged or complicated procedure, surgery involving vital organs, or a high risk for postoperative complications.
Major surgery
Degree of Risk:often performed on an outpatient basis, involves little risk and usually has few complications.
Minor Surgery
Describe the typical physical preparation of a client undergoing surgery.
Maintain NPO for 8 hours before surgery.
• Shower or scrub the surgical site with an antibacterial solution the evening before surgery and the morning of the surgery.
Have the client void before receiving preoperative medications, including prophylactic antibiotics.
• Administer any prescribed preoperative medications.
• Review daily medications with the anesthesia team.
• Remove all artificial body parts, such as dentures, limbs, or contact lenses; wigs, eyeglasses, makeup, and jewelry must also be removed.
• Apply antiembolism stockings, if prescribed.
Disadvantages of conscious sedation
Not practical for highly anxious patients.
Disadvantages of General Anesthesia
The respiratory and circulatory muscles are depressed, so mechanical ventilation is needed while the patient is under the effects of the anesthetic agent(s). These effects predispose the patient to pneumonia and thrombophlebitis in the postoperative period.
General anesthesia creates a risk for death, heart attack, stroke, and malignant hyperthermia. Malignant hyperthermia is a rare, often fatal, metabolic condition that can occur during the use of muscle relaxants and inhalation anesthesia. Metabolism increases in the skeletal muscles and they become rigid. The temperature rises rapidly. Predisposition to this condition is inherited.
Frequent minor complaints after general anesthesia include sore throat (from intubation), nausea and vomiting (from relaxation of gastrointestinal smooth muscle), headache, uncontrollable shivering, and confusion.
disadvantages of Regional anesthesia
May not be practical if the patient is highly anxious or if adequate pain control cannot be achieved. Many patients are apprehensive about being able to see and hear the procedure.
Drugs used for __________are of a higher concentration than those for ___________
Epidural Anesthesia
Spinal Anesthesia
Duties of circulating nurse
client advocate
continuously monitors the client and the sterile field.
maintains a safe, comfortable environment;
communicates with appropriate personnel outside the operating room; and responds to emergencies.
attend to the patient during the induction of anesthesia.
Embolus in this system -results in symptoms in the area affected (e.g., cerebrovascular accident, myocardial infarction, or loss of circulation to an area).
arterial
embolus in venous system often results in
PE - pulmonary embolus
Examples of never events
Surgery on the wrong body part
Surgery on the wrong patient
Wrong surgery on a patient
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) after total knee or hip replacement
Foreign body left in a patient after surgery (e.g., sponge, clip for draping)
Surgical site infections after certain elective procedures (e.g., after bariatric surgery for obesity). AORN, The Joint Commission, National Priorities Partnership, and IHI extend that to include all infections that occur after surgery
Excess gas within the intestines; may be due to a slow return of peristalsis or from handling of the intestines during surgery.
Abdominal Distention (Tympanites)
hospitals are increasingly using ____ ____ ____ and anticoagulation therapy, instead of elastic stockings, to prevent DVT
sequential compression devices
How often is a patient typically assessed after surgery -In the postanesthesia care unit (PACU)
every 5 to 15 minutes