Perioperative Review Flashcards
Pre-Op Risk Factors
- Less physiologic reserve
- Comorbidities
- Health status
- Past surgical experiences
- Allergies
Reduced Physiological Reserve Factors
- Old age
- Young age
- Pregnancy
- Many comorbid health conditions
Renal Lab Markers
- Ability to metabolize anesthesia
- Manage fluid changes from surgery
Hemoglobin Level
- Surgery causes blood loss
- Insufficient Hb pre-op = concern
WBC Level
- All surgeries have infection risk
- Low WBC = difficult to fight infection
Na Level
- Overall homeostasis
- Fluid balance
K Level
Cardiac stability
Consent
- Surgeon obtains
- No minimum age
- Informed consent is a legal mandate
Scrub Nurse Responsibilities
- Setting up sterile field
- Prep equipment
- Passes supplies to surgical team
- Monitors aseptic technique
- Performs sponge, needle, instrument count
- Sends specimens to lab
Circulating Nurse Responsibilities
- Monitors client
- Coordinates team
- Monitors aseptic practice
- Verifies consent
- Performs second surgical safety checklist
- Counts with scrub nurse
- Transfers client to PACU
RN-First Assist (RNFA) Responsibilities
- Care under supervision of surgeon
- Intraoperative performance of surgical first assistant techniques
RN-Anesthesia Assistant (RNAA) Responsibilities
- Provide anesthesia care under direct supervision of anesthesiologist/medical directives
- Similar role fulfilled by RTs who have completed anesthesia assistant program
Transfer out of PACU
- Return to baseline vitals
- Sufficient pain management
- Improving LOC
- Nausea/vomit controlled
- Wound dressing intact
LOC Complications
- Failure to return to baseline
- Delirium
- Low Glasgow coma
LOC Expected Values
- Moving towards alert & oriented
- Expected drowsiness within 24hrs of surgery
ABC’s Complications
- Hypoxia
- Atelectasis
ABC’s Expectations
- Patent airway
- Normal rate, rhythm, depth
- Deep breathing & coughing
Hypoxia Findings
- Dyspnea
- Bradypnea
- Low SpO2
- Cyanosis
Atelectasis Findings
- Dyspnea
- Tachypnea
- Low SpO2
- Cyanosis
- Increased HR
Opiate Caution
Airway depression
Expected Circulation
- Normal HR/BP
- Temperature, colour
- Bleeding as expected based on surgery
- Heart rhythm
Circulation Complications
- Hypotension
- Hypothermia
- Hemorrhage/hypovolemic shock
- Dysrhythmias
- DVT
- PE
Hypothermia Findings
- Low temp
- Shivering
- Piloerection
Dysrhythmias Findings
- Changes in BP/HR
- Abnormal rhythm
Deep Vein Thrombosis S/S
- Pain in lower extremities
- Cramping
- Leg swelling
- Red
- Pain
Pulmonary Embolism S/S
- SOB
- Chest pain
Prophylaxis (DVT Prevention)
- Low molecular weight heparins
- Decreased risk of bleeding compared to heparin
- SC injections - 2 inches from umbilicus
- Mild bruising normal
Mobility Interventions
- Pain management
- Compression stockings
- Sequential compression devices
- Elevate legs
- Interprofessional team
Surgical Site Expectations
- Appropriate drainage
- Edges approximated
- Healthy wound healing
- Dressing dry & intact
Dehiscence Findings
- Edges of wound unintentionally not-approximated
- Occurs 5-8 post-op
Evisceration Findings
- Edges of would unintentionally not-approximated
- Fascia +/-
- Organs visible or protrude
Paralytic Ileus Findings
- Abdominal distension
- Absence of bowel sounds