Basics of Positioning
What are the three basic surgical positions?
Supine, Prone, and Lateral.
Give one patient factor that can increase risk for injury during positioning.
Age, weight, BMI, skin condition, or mobility limits.
When positioning arms, how many degrees should arm extension stay below?
Less than 90°
What happens to the diaphragm in the lithotomy position?
Pressure increases, making breathing harder.
What is a Stage 1 pressure injury?
Red, non-blanchable skin.
What is the dorsal recumbent position commonly called?
What is supine?
Give one procedural factor that can affect safe positioning.
Type of anesthesia, length of surgery, or position required.
What should always be done before using a safety strap?
Place a sheet or blanket between the strap and skin.
What can happen to venous return in the prone position if the abdomen is compressed?
It can decrease, causing low blood pressure.
What is a Stage 2 pressure injury?
Partial-thickness skin loss with exposed dermis.
What are two modifications of the supine position?
Lithotomy, Trendelenburg, Reverse Trendelenburg, or Sitting.
Why is it important to assess a patient’s nutritional status before positioning?
Poor nutrition increases risk of skin breakdown.
What can happen if you remove the legs from lithotomy too quickly?
A sudden blood pressure drop or circulatory shift.
Why should you avoid shoulder braces in Trendelenburg?
They can cause brachial plexus injury.
What is a Stage 3 pressure injury?
Full-thickness skin loss.
In which position does the patient lie on their non-operative side?
What is lateral position?
What lab or health condition could affect safe positioning?
Low albumin, diabetes, or poor circulation.
Name two nerves that may be injured in the lithotomy position.
Femoral, obturator, or perineal nerves.
Name one physiological risk of being in Trendelenburg too long.
Increased eye pressure or breathing difficulty.
What is an unstageable pressure injury?
Full-thickness tissue loss covered by slough or eschar.
What is the jack-knife or Kraske position a variation of?
What is the prone position?
Why is it important to check for jewelry before positioning?
Jewelry can cause burns or pressure injuries.
What injury is prevented when the patients thumbs are pointed upwards?
What is a brachial plexus injury
Why is a pregnant patient placed with a wedge under the right hip in supine?
To shift the uterus off major blood vessels and improve circulation.
Give 1 of the 3 interventions to prevent nerve or pressure injuries during surgical positioning.
Use padding on pressure points, keep limbs in natural alignment, and limit time in one position.