Perioperative Mx & Post Op Complications Flashcards
What is the approximate composition of a 70kg male?
- Fat (15kg)
- Protein (12kg)
- Water (42kg)
- Glycogen and minerals (1kg)
How is total body water divided?
2 main compartments:
- extracellular fluid 19L
- intracellular (cytoplasmic) 23L
How is the ECF divided?
-Interstitial - 15L
-Intravascular (plasma) - 3L
-Third space (GIT/Renal) - ~1L
(may change if normal transcapillary exchange is interfered with e.g. inflammation).
What is the post-op hormonal response and its effect?
24-48h post op have increased cortisol, aldosterone and ADH secretion:
- decreased renal Na excretion (therefore decreased water excretion to maintain osmolality)
- increased renal K+ excretion (some results from tissue damage and breakdown of cells)
- decreased renal water excretion (sml vol, high {} urine), independent of intake.
What are the aims of post op water and electrolyte therapy?
- Maintenance needs
- Replacement of pre-existing deficits
- Replacement of ongoing losses
What are the maintenance requirements in 70kg male?
Water: 100mL/h (increased for fever)
Na: 75mmol/day
K+: 60mmol/day
What are the common sites of ongoing post op fluid loss?
- GIT: NGT aspirate or vomit, fistula, diarrhoea
- Third spacing: inflammation e.g. retroperitoneal effusion in pancreatitis
How should ongoing fluid loss be assessed?
Recording of fluid balance, daily weights if possible.
How should measured upper GIT losses be replaced?
Isotonic sodium containing solutions (0.9% saline or Ringer’s lactate) supplemented with potassium.
How should third space losses be replaced?
Not directly assessable. Replace with Ringer’s lactate solution.
Volume determined through clinical assessment of fluid balance.
How are post op energy requirements determined?
- Body weight (fat free mass)
- Degree of surgical trauma
- Sepsis
- Nutritional status
What is the energy requirement per kg body weight?
40cal/kg/day
Should be based on fat free mass (i.e. care not to overprescribe in obese or oedematous).
Factors contributing to poor post op respiratory function?
- Preop res disease
- Anaesthesia (PPV + Rx ==> may cause V/Q mismatch)
- High FiO2 to correct low SaO2 ==>patchy collapse of alveoli due to decreased N content
- Hypoventilation: pain, supine, decreased cough reflex, anaesthesia/analgesia.
What happens to the post op WCC?
Normally slightly increased for 2-3d post op; marked elevation during this period or prolonged elevation indicates infective/inflammatory process.
Routine post-op investigations?
- BSL (diabetics)
- Hb (24-36h post op)
- WCC (if ?sepsis)
- UEC (when fluids required)
- ABGs (if ?resp insufficiency)
What are the effects of post op pain?
- Decreased respiration (>hypoventilation/collapse)
- GIT atony (ileus/N/V)
- Bladder atony (retention)
- Catecholamine release (vasoconstriction, increased blood viscosity, active clotting).
How are surgical wounds classified?
- Clean
- Clean-contaminated
- Contaminated
- Dirty
What are the forms of peri-operative haemorrhage?
- Primary: occurring during op
- Reactionary: at conclusion of op with restoration of CO and BP –> dry wounds bleed
- Secondary: days after op
How can post op haemorrhage be identified?
- Overt bleeding
- Peripheral shutdown (mottling),
- hypovolaemia (hypotension/ tachycardia/ tachypnoea/ decreased urine output.
- Distension after abdo surgery
Causes of post op circulatory collapse?
- Haemorrhage
- Severe sepsis
- MI
- PE
- Hypersensitivity reaction
Mx of post op haemorrhage?
- Stop source (may need re-op)
- Correct coagulopathy
- Assess for transfusion need
What are the clinical features of sepsis?
- High pyrexia
- Tachycardia
- Hypotension
- Warm periphery
What are the factors contributing to post op pulmonary complications?
- Wound pain (esp upper abdo/chest)
- Limitation of resp excursion
- Ciliary paralysis
- Drying of bronchial secretions
- Oversedation
- Obesity
What are the types of wound dehiscence?
- Superficial and revealed (2/52 when sutures removed; skin and subcutaneous tissues separate; wound haematoma or cellulitis)
- Deep and concealed (any time post op; all layers of abdo except skin separate = incisional hernia)
- Complete and revealed (10/7 post op with protrusion of abdo contents).
Mx insulin in IDDM patients?
IV dextrose infusion and 0.5 normal insulin dose given morning of op.
Glucose throughout op guided by repeated BSL monitoring.
5Ws of post op fever?
- Wind: POD #1-2 (pulmonary atelectasis, pneumonia)
- Water: POD #3-7 (urine - UTI)
- Wound: POD #3-7
- Walk: POD #8 (DVT/PE)
- Wonder drugs: POD #1+ (drug fever)