Surg Tech 102--Chapter 13 Flashcards
When are patients admitted to the PACU?
Immediately after surgery
Once all monitoring devices are in place and the patient is stable, the circulating nurse performs a _____ to the PACU nurse.
handover (also called a hand-off)
The circulating nurse provides _____ to update the PACU nurse on the patient’s _____ before and during surgery.
all information needed
physiological status
True or False: The circulating nurse and ACP remain with the patient until the handover is complete.
True
The following information is provided during the handover:
- A brief patient history
- The exact surgery performed (including side and site)
- Total length of time anesthesia was delivered and the drugs given (amounts and routes are also given)
- Estimated blood loss and the amount and type of IV fluids or blood administered. (Type and amount of blood is reported)
- Condition of the wound, drain, and other devices
- ASA score
- Any surgical or medical complications that occurred during surgery
- Information about family members who may be waiting
After accepting the handover, the PACU nurse performs a _____.
patient assessment
The PACU nurse’s assessment can be either a _____ or a _____.
focused assessment
head to toe assessment
Focuses on specific criteria, such as respiration, circulation, pain, and level of consiousness
focused assessment
The assessment that covers all or most body systems.
head to toe assessment
The airway is assessed by _____.
auscultation
When checking the respiratory system, the respiratory _____ and _____ are measured
rate and rhythm
What is perfusion?
The flow of blood to tissue
How is perfusion measured?
pulse oximeter
The color of the patient’s skin is checked for _____.
hypoxia
What is hypoxia?
inadequate oxygen to tissues
The heart is monitored for rate and rhythm using _____.
ECG and cardiac monitor
What are arterial blood gases (ABG)?
The ratio of oxygen to carbon dioxide and the blood pH
What is a serious post-op complication?
hypothermia
The abdomen is assessed for _____.
distention
How is the abdomen assessed for distention?
observation, palpation, and radiographs
Bowel sounds are assessed by _____.
auscultation
A persistent lack of bowel sounds may indicate surgical _____.
paralytic ileus
What is surgical paralytic ileus?
Cessation of peristalsis in the bowel leading to obstruction
The patients level of consciousness is assessed using the _____.
Glasgow Coma Scale (GSC)
What are the three categories of the GSC?
- Eye opening
- Best verbal response
- Best motor response
What are the most frequent life-threatening postoperative complications?
respiratory problems
Can be related to the effects of anesthetic drugs, muscle relaxants, or fluid-electrolyte imbalance.
Inadequate ventilation
Inadequate intake of air and oxygen results in the accumulation of _____ in the blood.
carbon dioxide
Pain at the operative site is another cause of _____, resulting in low oxygen saturation.
hypoventilation
Most often caused by anatomical structures or by aspiration of fluids.
airway obstruction
Contraction of the laryngeal muscles
laryngospasm
This can occur whenever the larynx is irritated or stimulated by secretions, intubation, extubation, or suctioning.
laryngospasm
Partial or complete closure of the bronchial tubes.
bronchospasm
Can be triggered by airway suctioning, aspiration of fluid, or allergy.
bronchspasm
Inhalation of secretions or stomach contents.
aspiration
Associated with a weak gag reflex related to the use of narcotics, sedatives, and anesthetic agents.
aspiration
The collapse of the lung.
atelectasis
Who are particularly vulnerable to atelectasis?
smokers
The blockage of a pulmonary vessel by air, a blood clot, or other substance.
pulmonary embolism
A pulmonary embolism can result in _____.
anoxia
What is anoxia?
decreased oxygen to the lung tissue
The risk of pulmonary embolism is increased in patients with a history of _____.
deep vein thrombosis (DVT)
_____ can occur as a result of fluid or electrolyte imbalance.
hypotension or hypertension
A persistently low core body temperature (less than 98.6).
hypothermia
Who are most vulnerable for hypothermia?
elderly, pediatric, and frail patients
Can result in a longer post-op recovery period, surgical wound infection, cardiac ischemia, and reduced ability to metabolize drugs.
hypothermia
A rare condition that results in an extremely high core body temperature, cardiac dysrhythmia, tachypnea, hypoxia, and hypercarbia.
malignant hyperthermia (MH)
Potentially fatal and occurs most commonly at the time of administration of anesthesia.
malignant hyperthermia (MH)
Can be triggered by inhalation anesthetic and succinylcholine.
malignant hyperthermia (MH)
What is administered as soon as malignant hyperthermia (MH) is diagnosed?
dantrolene sodium
Physiological, psychological, and social conditions that serve as a measure of the patient’s readiness for discharge.
discharge criteria
A scale that is often used to determine whether a patient is ready for discharge.
Aldrete scale
What does the Aldrete scale evaluate?
activity, respiration, circulation, consciousness, and oxygen saturation
Patient teaching is the responsibility of _____.
trained nursing personnel
When was the American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN) organized?
1980
Established standards of practice for the post-op care of diverse populations, such as pediatric, adult, and geriatric patients.
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses (ASPAN)
What are the 4 areas ASPAN identified as specific phases of care?
- Preanesthesia phase
- Postanesthesia phase I
- Postanesthesia phase II
- Remote postanesthesia phase III
