Preparing For Theatre Flashcards
what are the reasons for cannulation?
- Infuse IV fluids
- Give IV induction anaesthetic agents
- IV medication
- Withdraw venous blood
what are the best sites for cannulation?
cubital fossa basilic cephalic median cubital dorsum of hand
what areas should be avoided for cannulation?
- veins distal to previous IV site
- Joints or bony prominences
- Sclerosed or thrombosed veins
- Dominant hand
- Limb affected by axillary clearance
- Veins with overlying cellulitis or skin breakdown
- AV fistula
what are the possible complications of cannulation?
- Thrombophlebitis
- Extravasation
- Hyperteonic or irritant fluid infusion may result in phlepbitis and require larger veins
- Haematoma
- Nerve, tendon or ligament damage
- Infection from cannulae left in situ
- Vasovagal syncope
give some examples of causes of sinus bradycardia?
hypothyroidism
beta blockers
normal
describe the features of sick sinus syndrome?
sinus formation problem
• In elderly
• Fibrosis of SAN and peri-nodal tissue
• Intermittent failure of impulse generation and propagation
• Long pauses between p waves
• Ectopic
• Tachyarrhythmias (tachy-brady syndrome)
what is 1st degree heart block?
increased PR interval (>5small squares)
what is 2nd degree heart block?
- Type 1: wenckeback – gradually increasing PR interval until missed beat
- Type II: PR iinterval remains same but proportion of p waves not conducted to ventricles (2:1 or 3:1)
what is complete heart block?
- Atrial activity occurs independently of ventricular escape rhytyhm
- Measure p wave and QRS rate – they should be regular (assuming no AF)
describe types of supraventicular tachycardia?
narrow QRS
irregular - AF
regular - sinus tachycardia, AVNRT, AVRT
describe AVNRT
Accessory pathway in AV node, heart continually generate impulses to ventricles
describe AVRT?
- Secondary pathway between atria and ventricles so continued activation from atria to ventricles, especially problematic in AF
- WPW: leads 1 / V3 , short PR, delta wave
describe ventricular tachycardia?
- Broad QRS
- VT
- VF
- Torsades
what are the causes of ST elevation?
- Acute MI
- Pericarditis
- High take off
what are the causes of ST depression?
- Ischaemia
* Digoxin – reverse tick on ECG
what are the causes of T wave inversion?
- Normal variant
- Ischaemia
- Ventricular hypertrophy
- Bundle branch block
- Digoxin
what are the types of anaesthesia?
local
regional - central neuraxial blockage, nerve blockades
general
what is local anaesthetic?
small area numbed for minor surgery
what is regional anaesthetic?
larger region
• Central neuraxial blockage – spinal/epidural (INR less than 1.5 for these procedures)
• Nerve blockades – entire limb in isolation, stay awake during operation, can be combined with general§
what is general anaesthesia?
unconscious
IV or inhaled drugs
what needs to be taken into consideration when performing preoperative optimisation?
- Type of surgery – minor, intermediate, major/complex
- Urgency of surgery - timescale
- Comorbidities and functional status – ASA grade
what is ASA 1?
normal health patent
what is ASA 2?
patient with mild systemic disease
what is ASA 3?
patient with severe systemic disease that is not a constant threat to life
what is ASA 4?
patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to life
what is ASA 5?
moribund patient not expected to survive with ot without surgery
what are the aspects of anaesthetic preoperative assessment?
- Functional status: activities of daily living, cardiopulmonary exercise test
- Medical history : diabetes (infection risk, ACS, HbA1c <69), RA (cannulation and positioning difficulty),
- Medications and allergy - medications (stop ACE, ACEII on day of surgery)
- Preoperative tests: NICE guidelines
- Airway assessment :
- Previous anaesthesia: suxamethonion apnea
what are the fasting guidelines for surgery?
- Solids- 6 hours
- Clear fluids – 2 hours
- Aspiration risk (aspiration pneumocytis)
how can a patient be optimised for theatre?
- Correct fluids
- Correct electrolyte imbalances
- Optimise heart rate
- Anticoagulation and VTE prohylaxis
- Availability of blood for theatre
- Analgesia and antiemetics
give examples of minor surgeries?
excising skin lesion
draining breast abscess
give examples of intermediate surgeries?
primary repair of inguinal hernia
excising varicose veins in the leg
tonsillectomy or adenotonsillectomy
knee arthrosopy
give examples of major or complex surgeries?
total abdominal hysterectomy endoscopic resection of prostate lumbar discectomy thyroidectomy total joint replacement lung operations colonic resection radial neck dissection
for a patient with ASA grade 1 what investigations are required prior to
- minor surgery
- intermediate surgery
- major surgery
- none
- none
- FBC, kidney function (risk of AKI), ECG (if >65)
for a patient with ASA grade 2 what investigations are required prior to
- minor surgery
- intermediate surgery
- major surgery
- none
- kidney function (if risk of AKI), ECG (if CV, renal or diabetes comorbidites)
- FBC, kidney function, ECG
for a patient with ASA grade 3/4 what investigations are required prior to
- minor surgery
- intermediate surgery
- major surgery
- kidney function (risk of AKI, ECG)
- FBC (CV or renal disease), haemostasis (if chronic liver disease), kidney function, ECG, lung function/arterial blood gas
- FBC, haemostasis, kidney function, ECG, lung function/arterial blood gas
when should a patient attend a pre-assessment clinic prior to surgery?
2 weeks prior to surgery patient has appointment with nurse to assess and discuss suitability and discussion with anaesthetist
what is included on an anaesthetic assessment sheet?
- 3 points of ID
- height, weight, HR, BP, temp
- ask patient what operation they’re having
- ASA grade
- elective or emergency?
- drug history
- alcohol, tobacco etc
- allergies
- airway and dentition
- examination
- investigations
- discussion with patient
- your name, grade, signature, date
what score system is used to assess airway?
mallampati score
what are the different classes of the mallampati score?
1 - complete visualisation of soft palate
2 - complete visualisation of uvula
3 - visualisation of only base of uvula
4 - soft palate not visible
what medications should not be administered on the day of surgery?
ACE inhibitors ARBs alpha blockers diabetic medication diuretics