Principles of Surgery Flashcards
Ejection fraction considered prohibitively risky in a noncardiac pt
under 35%
Risks considered by Goldman’s index of cardiac risk
jugular venous distention (evidence of congestive heart failure), recent MI (within
6 months), either premature ventricular contractions (5 or more per minute) or a rhythm other than sinus, age over 70, emergency surgery, and either aortic valvular stenosis, poor medical condition, or surgery within the chest or abdomen
worst single finding predicting high cardiac risk
Jugular venous distention
second worst predictor of cardiac complications
Recent MI
Most common cause of increased pulmonary risk, and what happens to lungs
Smoking. The problem is compromised ventilation.
Hepatic predictors of mortality
bilirubin (which reflects hepatocellular function), serum albumin, prothrombin time, ascites, and encephalopathy
Definition of severe nutritional depletion
Loss of 20% body weight over a couple of months, albumin below 3, anergy to skin antigens, or transferrin less than 200
What must you do for a pt in a diabetic coma before surgery
Rehydration, return of urinary output, and at least partial correction of the acidosis and hyperglycemia
What caused fever when fever develops shortly after the onset of the anesthetic (halothane or succinylcholine). Temperature exceeds 104°F. Metabolic acidosis and hypercalcemia also occur.
Malignant hyperthermia
How to treat malignant hyperthermia
IV dantrolene, 100% oxygen, correction of the acidosis, and cooling blankets. Watch for development of myoglobinuria.
What may have caused postoperative fever seen within 30–45 minutes of invasive procedures (instrumentation of the urinary tract is a classic example), and there are chills and temperature spike to or exceeding 104°F
Bacteremia
What should you do about a pt w/ postoperative bacteremia
Do blood cultures times
three, start empiric antibiotics.
Postoperative fever in the normal range (101-103) causes in sequential order
atelectasis, pneumonia, urinary tract infection, deep venous thrombophlebitis, wound infection, or deep abscesses.
most common source of post-op fever on the first PO day.
Stele tases
This will happen in about 3 days if atelectasis is not resolved. Fever will persist. Chest x-ray will show infiltrates.
Pneumonia
typically produces fever starting on PO day 3. Work up with urinalysis, urinary cultures. Treat with appropriate antibiotics
UTI
typically produces fever starting on PO day 5 or thereabouts. Doppler studies of deep leg and pelvic veins is the best diagnostic modality (physical exam is worthless). Anticoagulate with heparin.
Deep vein thrombophlebitis
Typically begins to produce fever on PO day 7. Physical exam will show erythema, warmth, and tenderness.
Wound infection
Tx wound infection
Treat with antibiotics if there is only cellulitis; open and drain the wound if an abscess is present. When these two cannot be easily distinguished clinically, sonogram is diagnostic
These start producing fever around PO days 10–15. CT scan of the appropriate body cavity is diagnostic. Percutaneous radiologically guided drainage is therapeutic.
Deep abscesses (like subphrenic, pelvic, or subhepatic)
The W’s of postop fever (according to OME)
Wonder drugs Wind Water Walking Wound Wonder drugs
Most reliable test for postop MI
Troponin
What to do for someone who is having a perioperative MI
emergency angioplasty and coronary stent
When will PE happen postop
Day 7 in elderly/immobilized patients
Suspect this in a pt w/ chest pain that is pleuritic, sudden onset, accompanied by SOB. The patient is anxious, diaphoretic, and tachycardic, with prominent distended veins in the neck and forehead. Arterial blood gases show hypoxemia and hypocapnia.
PE
Standard diagnostic test for postop PE
spiral CT, usually w/ contrast