The Surgical Patient

Types of Surgery

100

Surgery done to alter the patient's appearance

Cosmetic

200

Surgery done to find the problem

Diagnostic

300

Surgery must happen now or the patient may die

Emergent

400

Low risk surgery, often uses local anesthesia

Minor

500

Surgery that removes more than the affected area

Radical

Preoperative Care

100

Patient must be alert and not sedated when signing this before surgery

Consent

200

Main reason for NPO before surgery

Prevent aspiration

300

Done before surgery to reduce microorganisms and infection risk

Skin preparation

400

Everyone pauses to confirm the right patient, right procedure, and right site.

Universal Protocol/Time Out

500

Four herbal medications that must be stopped 2-3 weeks before surgery

Garlic, Ginkgo, Ginseng, St. John's Wort

Intraoperative Care

100

Used to block pain, relax the body, reduce anxiety, and often make the patient forget the experience.

Anesthesia

200

Type of anesthesia where the patient is completely unconscious. Used for major surgeries. 

General Anesthesia

300

Type of anesthesia used - patient is relaxed, sleepy, and may not remember the procedure, but they are still breathing on their own and can respond if needed.

Procedural Anesthesia (Conscious Sedation)

400

Intraoperative complication that can cause cardiac problems, increased bleeding, delayed healing and increased infection risk.

Hypothermia

500

Life-threatening reaction to anesthesia - rapid temp increase, muscle rigidity, tachycardia. 

Malignant Hyperthermia

Postoperative Care

100

Number 1 priority in the PACU

Airway

200

A surgical dressing rapidly soaking could mean

Hemorrhage

300

Tool used to decide if the patient can safely leave PACU

Aldrete Score

400

3 things a patient should be able to do before they can discharge same day after outpatient surgery

Walk Drink Urinate

500

First sign of shock is -

Late sign of shock is -

1 - increased HR

Late - decreased BP

Considerations

100

This religion does not accept donor blood

Jehovah's Witness

200

These adults don’t process medications as quickly, so they need lower doses of anesthesia and closer monitoring.

Older Adults

300

This high risk surgical patient is at higher risk for atelectasis and pneumonia because they have damaged lungs and poor oxygen exchange. 

Smoker

400

This high risk patient is at higher risk for infection and poor wound healing due to high glucose.

Diabetic

500

5 discharge red flags the provider needs to know

Fever >100°F

Increased pain

Bleeding or drainage

Nausea/vomiting

Numbness or weakness