Members of the Surgical Team
Surgeon
Surgical assistant
Anesthesiologist
Certified registered nurse anesthetist
Holding area nurse
Circulating nurse
Scrub nurse
Surgical technician/ Operating room technician
Environment of the Operating Room
Preparation of the surgical suite and team safety
Layout
Health and hygiene of the surgical team
Surgical attire
Surgical scrub
Anesthesia
Induced state of partial or total loss of sensation, occurring with or without loss of consciousness.
Used to block nerve impulse transmissions, suppress reflexes, promote muscle relaxation, and, in some instances, achieve a controlled level of unconsciousness.
General Anesthesia
Reversible loss of consciousness is induced by inhibiting neuronal impulses in several areas of the CNS.
State can be achieved by a single agent or a combination of agents.
CNS is depressed, resulting in analgesia, amnesia, and unconsciousness, with the loss of muscle tone and reflexes.
Stages of General Anesthesia
Stage 1: analgesia
Stage 2: excitement
Stage 3: operative
Stage 4: danger
Administration of General Anesthesia
Inhalation: intake and excretion of anesthetic gas or vapor to the lungs through a mask
Intravenous injection: barbiturates, ketamine, and propofol through the blood stream
Adjuncts to general anesthesia agents: hypnotics, opioid analgesics, neuromuscular blocking agents
Balanced Anesthesia
Combination of intravenous drugs and inhalation agents used to obtain specific effects
Combination used to provide hypnosis, amnesia, analgesia, muscle relaxation, and reduced reflexes with minimal disturbance of physiologic function.
Balance Anesthesia Continued…
Example:
-thiopental for induction
-nitrous oxide for amnesia
-morphine for analgesia
-pancuronium for muscle relaxation
Complications from General Anesthesia
Malignant hyperthermia: possible treatment with dantrolene
Overdose
Unrecognized hypoventilation
Complications of specific anesthetic agents
Complications of intubation
Question
In treating the client with malignant hyperthermia, the most important intervention is:
A. Initiation of cooling measures
B. Administration of skeletal muscle relaxant
C. Reversal of anesthesia
D. Increasing rate of intravenous fluids
Local or Regional Anesthesia
Sensory nerve impulse transmission from a specific body area of region is briefly disrupted
Motor function may be affected
Patient remains conscious and able to follow instructions
Gag and cough reflexes remain intact
Sedatives, opioid analgesics, or hypnotics are often used as supplements to reduce anxiety.
Local Anesthesia
Topical anesthesia
Local infiltration
Regional anesthesia
-field block
-nerve block
-spinal anesthesia
-epidural anesthesia
Question
In reviewing preoperative teaching for a client scheduled to have regional anesthesia, which statement by the client indicates that additional teaching is needed?
A. “My legs may be numb for a while.”
B. “I hope I don’t get too nervous being awake.”
C. “It will be difficult to move my legs immediately after surgery.”
D. “I am relieved that I will be asleep during this procedure.”
Complications of Local or Regional Anesthesia
Anaphylaxis
Incorrect delivery technique
Systemic absorption
Overdosage
Complications of Local or Regional Anesthesia continued….
Assess for CNS stimulation
Assess for CNS and cardiac depression
Assess for restlessness, excitement
Assess for incoherent speech
Assess for headache, blurred vision
Assess for nausea/vomiting, metallic taste
Assess for tremors and/or seizures
Assess vital signs against base line vital signs
Surgical Fires
Goal 11:
Reduce the risk of surgical fires
NPSG.11.01.01: The organization educates staff, including licensed independent practitioners who are involved with surgical procedures and anesthesia providers, on how to control heat sources, how to manage fuels while maintaining enough time for patient preparation, and establish guidelines to minimize oxygen concentration under drapes.
2005 Thyroid Surgery. Patient had 12 reconstruction surgeries
Growing use of electrosurgical devices and paper hospital drapes have contributed to fires in the operating room.
“affecting between 550 and 650 patients a year, including 20 to 30 who suffer serious, disfiguring burns. Every year, one or two people die this way”
(MSNBC, 2006).
Question
An operating room nurse is positioning a client on the operating room table to prevent the client’s extremities from dangling over the sides of the table. A nursing student who is observing for the day asks the nurse why this is so important. The nurse responds that this is done primarily to prevent:
A. An increase in pulse rate
B. A drop in blood pressure
C. Nerve and muscle damage
D. Muscle fatigue in the extremities
Question
A nurse is preparing a preoperative client for transfer to the operating room. The nurse should take which action in the care of this client at this time?
A. Ensure that the client has voided
B. Administer all the daily medications
C. Practice postoperative breathing exercises
D. Verify that the client has not eaten for the last 24 hours
Treatment of Complications
Establish an open airway
Give oxygen
Notify the surgeon
Fast-acting barbiturate is usual treatment
If toxic reaction is untreated, unconsciousness, hypotension, apnea, cardiac arrest, and death may result.
Conscious Sedation
IV delivery of sedative, hypnotic, and opioid drugs reduce the level of consciousness but allows the patient to maintain a patent airway and to respond to verbal commands.
Diazepam, midazolam, meperidine, fentanyl, alfentanil, and morphine sulfate are the most commonly used drugs.
Conscious Sedation Continued…
Nursing Assessment Includes:
-Airway
-Oxygen saturation
-Level of consciousness
-Electrocardiographic status
-vital signs monitor every 15 to 30 minutes
Collaborative Management
Assessment
Medical record review
Allergies and previous reactions to anesthesia or transfusions
Autologous blood transfusion
Laboratory and diagnostic test results
Medical history and physical examination findings
Question
A nurse is conducting preoperative teaching with a client about the use of an incentive spirometer. The nurse should include which piece of information in discussions with the client?
A. Inhale as rapidly as possible.
B. Keep a loose seal between the lips and the mouthpiece.
C. After maximum inspiration, hold your breath for 15 seconds and exhale.
D. The best results are achieved when sitting up or with the head of the bed elevated 45 to 90 degrees.
Risk for Perioperative Positioning Injury
Interventions include:
Proper body position
Risk for pressure ulcer formation
Prevention of obstruction of circulation, respiration, and nerve conduction
Impaired Skin Integrity
Interventions include:
-plastic adhesive drape
-skin closures include sutures (absorbable and nonabsorbable), staples, and dermabond, retention
sutures
-insertion of drains
-applications of dressings
-transfer of a patient from the operating room table to the stretcher or bed
Special Drains
•Remove pus•Remove blood•Remove other body fluids from wound
•Does not result in faster wound healing or prevent infection.
Dressings
Dry or moistGauze
HydrocolloidProtects the wound from surface contamination
HydrogelMaintains a moist surface to support healing
Wound V.A.C.Uses negative pressure to support healing
Dressings continued.
Changing Know type of dressing, placement of drains, and equipment needed.
SecuringTape, ties, or binders
Comfort measuresCarefully remove tape.Gently cleanse the wound.Administer analgesics before dressing change.
Ace wraps
•To reduce the swelling of an injured area of the body•To hold wound bandages in place•To wrap around a arm or leg splint during healing•To improve blood flow to a limb like an arm or leg•To hold cold or hot packs in place on a body part
Ice pack
•A general rule of thumb is to ice an injury over a period of 24 to 72 hours. •Apply cold packs for periods of up to 20 minutes every two to four hours. •When your skin starts to feel numb, it's time to give your body a break from a cold pack.
Question
Which of the nursing interventions would the nurse implement for the older client to minimize skin breakdown related to surgical positioning?
A. Padding bony prominences
B. Taping joints in anatomic position
C. Monitoring for excessive blood loss
D. Applying elastic stockings to lower extremities
Potential for Hypoventilation
Continuous monitoring of:
-breathing
-circulation
-cardiac rhythms
-blood pressure and heart rate
Continuous presence of an anesthesia provider
Question
A postoperative client asks a nurse why it is so important to deep-breathe and cough after surgery. In formulating a response, the nurse incorporates the understanding that retained pulmonary secretions in a postoperative client can lead to:
A. pneumonia
B. fluid imbalance
C. pulmonary edema
D. Carbon dioxide retention
Question
A client with a perforated gastric ulcer is scheduled for surgery. The client cannot sign the operative consent form because of sedation from opioid analgesics that have been administered. The nurse should take which appropriate action in the care of this client?
A. Obtain a court order for the surgery
B. Send the client to surgery without the consent form being signed.
C. Have the hospital chaplain sign the informed consent immediately.
D. Obtain a telephone consent from a family member, following hospital policy.