Post-Op
The patient who is still unconscious post-op should be placed in this position.
What is supine with HOB 30 degrees
The nurse may serve as a witness to the patient's signature on this after the physician has explained the procedure, risks, benefits, and complications, before sedation is given and before surgery is performed.
What is an informed consent?
This classification of medication is often given pre-operatively for its anti-anxiety and sedative effects.
What is a benzodiazepine?
What home medication should a patient ALWAYS take the day of surgery to prevent complications?
What is Beta-Blocker?
30 y/o female s/p ex-lap resection of ovarian mass and general surgery involvement of bowel resection. Surgery uneventful, EBL 200cc,. Patient is in post-op with dyspnea, tachypnea and saturating at 85 on 100% NRB.
What is pulmonary embolism?
These are your priority assessments for any patient in post-anesthesia care
What is ABC?
Patient allergy to certain foods such as bananas, may mean they have an allergy to this.
What is latex?
Thrombocytopenia is when this type of cell is below this number
What is platelets; 150,000
Why do we ask the patient if their family members have ever had problems with anesthesia?
What is Malignant Hyperthermia?
45 y/o male s/p Low Anterior Resection, EBL was 250, leak test normal. In post-op, patient is experiencing tachycardia, and is diaphoretic with narrow pulse pressure.
What is postoperative bleeding?
This is the most likely cause of post-anesthesia (emergence) delirium
What is decreased oxygenation?
If a patient arrives for a scheduled surgery and says this, surgery will likely be cancelled.
What is
A. I don't have someone to drive me home.
B. I had a smoothie this morning.
C. I started antibiotics for a sinus infection yesterday.
What lab should be checked to make sure patients do not have an acute infection?
What is CBC?
What are the signs of a blood clot in the extremities?
What is unilateral swelling, warmth, redness, and pain?
A common early circulatory problem.
What is bleeding or hemorrhage?
This is a normal affect of anesthesia in the immediate post-op period but must still be addressed
What is hypothermia?
Best method of infection prevention.
What is Handwashing?
Post-op pain management often consists of a combination of two or more of these classes of medication.
What is NSAID, acetaminophen and opioid.
This is frequently secondary to hypoxia, especially in older adults.
What is postoperative confusion?
45 y/o morbidly obese female status post gastric bypass revision with extensive lysis of adhesion with tachycardia.
What is anastomotic leak?
The first priority in the care of a patient after anesthesia
What is establishing a patient airway?
This assessment is often done by the surgeon and should always be in a surgical patient's chart.
What is history and physical?
Alterations in this electrolyte, both high and low, put a patient at risk for cardiac arrhythmias.
What is potassium?
A blood product used to correct abnormal PT/INR.
What is Fresh Frozen Plasma (FFP)
20 y/o female status post appendectomy, no previous surgery or anesthesia. She became tachypnic, tachycardic in PaCU. Monitor shows high end tidal CO2, patient also noted to have some muscle rigidity and fever.
What is malignant hyperthermia?