Positioning Flashcards
“Res ispa loquitur”
“the thing speaks for itself”
identify major safety concerns
patterns of injury and strategies for prevention
improve patient safety by anesthesiologists working in pain management, operating rooms, labor floor, remote locations and critical care.
After induction, the patient can no longer respond to
painful stimuli with poor positioning
“most commonly associated” with positioning-related problems in anesthetized or sedated patients
Tissue stretch and compression
Stretch
> 5% of normal resting length
Kinks or decreases lumens feeding arterioles and draining venules
-Direct Ischemia: reduced arteriole blood flow
-Indirect ischemia: venous congestion
Compression
(neuropraxia or axonotmesis)
Direct pressure reduces local blood flow & cellular integrity
tissue edema, ischemia and possibly necrosis
Padding
T/F
We don’t really know “exactly” why nerve injuries happen
True
Mechanisms of Positioning Injury
Periop Inflammatory Response
-Inflammatory neuropathy
-Microvascular neuropathies
-Autoimmune disease/Viruses/immunosuppression
Radiation-induced
Systemic inflammation from drugs, transfusions of blood products
Perioperative Inflammatory Responses
-Inflammatory neuropathy
-Microvascular neuropathies
-Autoimmune Dz/Viruses/immunosuppression
Goals of Proper Positioning
Clear view & best access to surg site
Anesthesia can give drugs
reduce bleeding & resp issues
less risk pressure/nerve injury & circulation
Team Member Responsibilities
Surgeon
Optimal procedural exposure
Team Member Responsibilities
Anesthesia
-Physiologic requirements (ABC’s)
-Ongoing assessment
-Ensure patient safety
Team Member Responsibilities
Nursing
-Safe transfer
-padding and positioning aids
-Ongoing assessment
T/F
Positioning is everyone’s responsibility.
True
biggest physiologic consequence of position changes
HypoTN
you must recheck and document breath sounds when…
head, neck or whole body moves
(ETT migration possible)
You MUST document every position change, along with…
how you protected the patient
Common Perioperative Neuropathies
Ulnar Neuropathies
Brachial Plexopathies
Median Neuropathies
Radial Neuropathies
Lower Extremity Neuropathies
Most COMMON perioperative neuropathy
Ulnar Neuropathy
Key factors associated with ulnar neuropathy:
-Direct extrinsic nerve compression (often medial aspect of elbow)
-Intrinsic nerve compression (associated with prolonged elbow flexion)
-Inflammation
Risk factors for Ulnar Neuropathy
Mainly:
Male, high BMI, older, prolonged postop bed rest
Others:
Abnormal ulnar nerves before surgery (Contralateral neuropathy)
Poorly formed fibrotendinous roof of the cubital tunnel
External compression in the absence of stretch
only major peripheral nerve in the body that always passes on the extensor side of a joint
ulnar nerve
All other major peripheral nerves primarily pass on the flexion side
Flexion vs extension
We prefer extension
What happens when peripheral nerves stretched >5% of their resting length
start to lose function and can develop ischemia
> __° degree of elbow flexion stretches the ulnar nerve
(≅___° high-risk for injury)
90
110
Anatomy and Elbow flexion
Ulnar nerve passes:
behind medial epicondyle
under the aponeurosis that holds the two muscle bodies of the flexor carpi ulnaris together
Anatomy and Elbow flexion
…. is thick, especially in men
Proximal edge of aponeurosis (cubital tunnel retinaculum)
Ulnar nerve injury
Compression at nerve between …
table and medial epicondyle
Ulnar nerve injury
prevention
supination
avoid hypotension and hypoperfusion
Pad arms properly
Ulnar nerve injury
Manifested by
inability to abduct the 5th finger
Weakness / atrophy of hand muscles “claw-hand”
Numbness/tingling/pain in lateral hand on affected side
Outcomes
Sensory Only Neuropathy
40% resolve within 5 days
80% resolve within 6 months
Outcomes
Sensory & Motor Ulnar Neuropathy
20% resolve within 6 months
Many have permanent pain and dysfuction
Follow Up
Sensory - only neuropathy
Observe patient as most resolve within 5 days
persists = neurologist consult
Follow Up
both motor and sensory neuropathy
Consult neurologist ASAP
may need decompression surgery
Brachial Plexus Injury
Most common in…
patients undergoing sternotomy (especially those with internal mammary artery mobilization)
Things to think about:
Brachial plexus entrapment
Prone positioning
Anatomy of shoulder abduction
Many patients don’t notice or complain until up to 48 hours later.. why?
We’ve medicated them heavily
Brachial Plexus Injury
Patients in ___ have a higher risk than supine
prone and lateral
Brachial Plexus Entrapment
Prone and lateral position patients:
entrapped between compressed clavicles and rib cage
Prone positioning
(surrender position)
somatosensory-evoked potential changes when their arms are abducted
T/F
Shoulder Braces can cause brachial plexus injury
True
braces tight against the base of the neck
should be more laterally over the acromioclavicular joint
Proper Shoulder Brace placement
more laterally over the acromioclavicular joint
Causes of Brachial Plexus Injury
These stretch the plexus
What injury should be concerned with after a procedure using a sternal retractor?
Brachial plexus
shoulder abduction goal
avoid abduction > 90°
shoulder abduction > 90°
places the distal plexus on the extensor side of the joint and possibility of stretching the plexus
Brachial plexus injury
How it happens
Excessive external rotation or abduction of arm
Avoid:
> 90 degree abduction
arm falling off of table
Brachial plexus injury
Positions affecting it
prone:
watch flexion & abduction of arms overhead
Lateral position:
-requires a chest roll (inaccurately called an axillary roll)
-avoids compression of humerus into axilla
-avoids compression of neurovascular bundle in axilla
When a pt is in lateral position, use which method to avoid brachial plexus injury?
Chest roll
(inaccurately called an axillary roll)
Brachial Plexus Nerve Injury
Manifestations
depend on which nerves are injured
Median – “Ape hand” deformity, inability to oppose thumb
Axillary – inability to abduct the arm
Ulnar – “Claw hand” deformity
Musculocutaneous – inability to flex forearm
Radial – wrist drop
Long Thoracic Nerve Dysfunction
Scapular winging
Serratus anterior muscle (long thoracic nerve branches from C5-C7, ~C8)
Long thoracic nerve palsy allows the dorsal protrusion of the scapula
Traumatic in nature
Viral/inflammatory?
allows the dorsal protrusion of the scapula
Long thoracic nerve palsy
Axillary Neurovascular Injury
Abduction of the arm on the arm board > 90 degrees
Head of the humerus into the axillary neurovascular bundle
Compression and stretch injury
Compression/occlusion = decreased perfusion
Mastectomy procedures can cause which nerve injury?
Axillary Neurovascular Injury
Abduction of the arm on the arm board > 90 degrees
Axillary Neurovascular Injury
Muscular men with large biceps are susceptible to
median nerve injury if the arm is fully extended during surgery
Median Nerve Neuropathies
most common in
men between: 20 - 40 yrs.
Men with large biceps and decreased flexibility
Prevention of complete extension at the elbow contributes to
Median Nerve Neuropathies
(Creates a shortening of the median nerve over time)
Usually, motor dysfunction doesn’t readily resolve with which nerve injury?
Median Nerve Neuropathies
~80% motor dysfunction still present 2 years post injury
IVs in the antecubital fossa area are a/w which nerve injury?
Median Nerve Neuropathies
nerves become ischemic if stretched ___ of their resting length which can …
> 5%
kink penetrating arterioles & exiting venules
↓
perfusion pressure
Full extension of the elbow stretches chronically contracted ___ and promotes ischemia (at the level of the __)
median nerves
elbow
Arm Support
support/pad the forearm and hand to prevent…
full extension
Radial Neuropathies are (Less/More) common than median neuropathies
more
Radial Neuropathies
usually compression of the nerve @ mid-humerus area (arising from roots C6-8 and T1)
Surgical retractors: compress radial nerve (bars holding abdominal retraction)
Lateral position (impinged by overhead arm boards)
Unsupported arms/ poles / repeated cycling of the BP cuff
Radial nerve injury: more often by
median nerve injury: mostly due to
radial: direct compression
median: stretch
T/F
NIBP is a/w injury of the median nerve.
False
more closely a/w radial never injury
Nerve Injury Presentation
Radial, Ulnar, Median
Radial got that limp wrist 👀
Arm board use
Lower Extremity Neuropathies
Common peroneal
Sciatic nerve
Obturator nerve
Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve
Femoral nerve
Hip
Excessive flexion or abduction
Flexion: injure lateral femoral cutaneous
abduction: obturator nerves
Obturator Neuropathy
Hip abduction >30 degrees can cause strain on obturator nerve
Excessive hip flexion of thigh can cause compression
Excessive traction in abdominal Sx
Motor dysfunction is common
Inability to adduct the leg with decreased sensation over the medial side of the thigh
Obturator passes through…
through the pelvis and out the obturator foremen
Hip flexion >90 ° causes
laterally displaces anterior superior iliac spine
&
stretches inguinal ligament
T/F
Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve injury results in motor disability.
False
only sensory fibers
But can have:
disabling pain
dysesthesias of the lateral thigh
Prolonged hip flexion >90° can cause ischemia of
Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve
Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve
1/3 of the nerve’s fibers pass through…
the inguinal ligament as it passes through the thigh (originates at L2-3)
Sciatic & its branches
-common peroneal (fibular)
-tibial nerves
cross which joints?
the hip and knee joints
Sciatic & its branches
-common peroneal (fibular)
-tibial nerves
are stretched by:
hyperflexion of the hips and extension of the knees
Sciatic Nerve is
stretched when…
external rotation of the leg
Sciatic and its branches:
common peroneal (fibular)
tibial nerves
Usually associated with direct pressure of the lateral leg, just below the knee
Peroneal Neuropathy
The peroneal nerve wraps around the…
head of the FIBula
Peroneal Neuropathy
causes
leg holders (candy canes)
-hold the leg and foot
-Impinge nerve around the head of the fibula
can cause foot drop
Pressure on Peroneal Nerve
Saphenous Nerve Injury
when the medial tibial condyle is compressed by leg supports
difficult forceps delivery or by excessive flexion of the thigh to the groin
Muscle cramps & Tightness
difficult mobility
Physiological changes related to change in body position are mostly from…
gravitational effects on cardiovascular and respiratory systems
redistribute blood within the venous, arterial, and pulmonary vasculature