Surgery: Post-op Flashcards
what is included in “early mobilization” to prevent complications of post-op? (5)
- Deep breathing and coughing
- Active daily exercise
- Joint range of motion
- Muscular strengthening
- Make walking aids such as canes, crutches and walkers available
infection is usually confined to what?
SubQ tissues
surgical wound classification 1-4
KNOW
(1) Clean : no gross contamination from exogenous or endogenous sources
1. 5%
(2) Lightly contaminated: clean-contaminated
2–5%
(3) Heavily contaminated: 5–30%
(4) Infected: in which obvious infection has been encountered during operation
two types of surgical site infections (SSIs)? There are two types of the 1st SSI
Incisional SSIs
Superficial: Incisional (skin and subcutaneous tissues)
Deep: Incisional (deeper soft deep fascia, muscles, and tissues beneath subcutaneous tissue of the incision)
Organ/space SSIs
Any part of the anatomy other than body wall layers that was manipulated during the procedure
Host factors that contribute to surgical infections (9) KNOW
Diabetes mellitus Hypoxemia Hypothermia Leukopenia Nicotine (tobacco smoking) Long-term use of steroid or immunosuppressive agents Malnutrition Nares colonization with S aureus Poor skin hygiene
prophylactic abx are indicated for what two types of “surgical classification”s ? when are they discontinued?
(kinda weeds)
clean contaminated or contaminated cases
- use for just about for any big surgery (b/c most will be clean-contam.)
- discontinue usually within 24 hours of operation
Abx resistance risk factors in post-op patient (6)
1) . Immunodeficient / compromised
2) . Implants/invasive devices
3) . Elderly patients
4) . Illness severity
5) . Extended LOS (length of surgery)
6) . Exposure to broad spectrum antibiotics
*but wont really change how we prophylax
one of the most common wound complications that is almost always caused by imperfect hemostasis? (KNOW)
hematoma (collection of blood and clot in the wound)
why are hematomas bad for post-op? how to prevent them? (KNOW)
Increased chance of dehiscence (opening up of the wound) and infection (due to poor circulation).
-give anti-coags and make sure wound is DRY
what is a seroma? why are they bad? how to prevent them? (KNOW)
Fluid collection in the wound other than pus or blood. Seromas delay healing and increase the risk of wound infection; prevent them by placing drains
what is wound dehiscence? when is it most commonly seen? (KNOW)
Wound dehiscence is partial or total disruption of any or all layers of the operative wound. (ABD)
most commonly observed between 5th-8th postoperative days, when the strength of the wound is at a minimum
MOST important factor in preventing wound dehiscence ? (KNOW
adequacy of closure: performing a neat incision, avoiding devitalization of the fascial edges by careful handling of tissues during the operation, placing and tying sutures correctly, and selecting the proper suture material.
what gives “strength “ to a closure?
The fascial layers give strength to a closure, and when fascia disrupts, the wound separates.
the most common single cause of morbidity after major surgical procedures? (KNOW)
pulmonary complication
what type of operations are pulmonary complications most common? (KNOW)
emergency operations (also chest and upper abd operations)
most common pulmonary complication? affects 25% of patients who have _______ surgery. how is it fixed? (KNOW)
atelectasis (lung collapse); abdominal surgery
-self- limited
fever within 48 hours post-op MOST likely means what? (KNOW)
atelectasis (over 90% of febrile episodes)
most common pulmonary complication among pts who die post-operatively? (KNOW)
Pneumonia
fat particles are found in 90% of patients with these two types of injuries? fat embolism can also be caused by (3)?
- fractures of long bones or joint replacements.
- exogenous sources of fat, such as blood transfusions, intravenous fat emulsion, or bone marrow transplantation.
fat embolism syndrome (KNOW)
consists of neurologic dysfunction, respiratory insufficiency, and petechiae of the axillae, chest, and proximal arms.
to dec cardiac complications, how do we want the blood to be during surgery and then after? when do we stop oral anticoags? (KNOW)
sticky/thicker during surgery, Thin after
-Oral anticoagulant drugs should be stopped 3–5 days before surgery, put back on after
what is bridging anti-coag? who might need this?
use of a short-acting parenteral agent to reduce the interval without anticoagulation
-patients on warfarin with an especially high thromboembolic risk
cardiac complications: General anesthesia depresses the _______, and some anesthetic agents predispose to what?
what do you do about this? (KNOW)
myocardium; predispose to dysrhythmias by sensitizing the myocardium to catecholamines.
-Monitoring of cardiac activity and blood pressure during the operation detects dysrhythmias and hypotension early.
cardiac complications: In patients with a high cardiac risk, _______may be safer than _________for procedures below the umbilicus. (KNOW)
regional anesthesia (e.g. nerve block) may be safer than general anesthesia
how does post-op ileus occur?
Anesthesia and surgical manipulation result in a decrease of the normal propulsive activity of the gut
GI peristalsis returns when after post-op ileus?
within 24 hours after most operations that do not involve the abdominal cavity
what is gastric dilation? how does it present?
a rare life-threatening complication, consists of massive distention of the stomach by gas and fluid
-patient appears ill, with abdominal distention and hiccup
diagnosis and txt of gastric dilation? (KNOW)
XRay (to see gas) and gastric decompression with a nasogastric tube.
In the late stage, gastric necrosis may require gastrectomy.
how to differentiate between ileus and obstruction? (KNOW)
plain film (xray) - obstruction will show lots of gas stuck in there