- Published on
Surgery - Positioning the Patient
Getting the patient to the surgical table • The surgical team plays a role in ensuring patient safety during and after surgery. Ensure compliance with basic safety guidelines.
• The anaesthetist is responsible for maintaining the patient's airway by coordinating all movements. • Avoid dislodging IV cannulae, epidural sites, or existing drains. • Use approved manual handling techniques, such as a 'Patslide' or comparable device, instead of lifting patients. • Take special precautions with prosthetic joints that may dislocate during relaxation, unstable fractures, Rheumatoid arthritis related instability, ulcers, or skin sores.
Once in position. • Prevent diathermy exit point burns by ensuring no patient points come into contact with the operating table's metal surface. • Properly pad bony prominences and thin skin areas, such as the neck of the fibula in leg stirrups. • Ensure diathermy pads are properly applied and not impacted by skin preparations. • Provide adequate patient support, especially if the table is likely to shift, tilt, or rotate throughout the procedure (e.g., arm, thoracic, and abdominal supports for lateral positions, shoulder bolsters for head down positions). • When doing procedures that need access to the perineum, ensure sufficient pelvic support while exposing the perineum over the end of the operating table.
• Plan the placement of ancillary equipment. For instance, where will video stacks be located? Is more than one energy source needed, and where will the generators be located? Is there access to mobile imaging equipment or on-table radiography? Position all equipment to offer the surgical team enough access to the patient.
Getting the patient to the surgical table • The surgical team plays a role in ensuring patient safety during and after surgery. Ensure compliance with basic safety guidelines.
• The anaesthetist is responsible for maintaining the patient's airway by coordinating all movements. • Avoid dislodging IV cannulae, epidural sites, or existing drains. • Use approved manual handling techniques, such as a 'Patslide' or comparable device, instead of lifting patients. • Take special precautions with prosthetic joints that may dislocate during relaxation, unstable fractures, Rheumatoid arthritis related instability, ulcers, or skin sores.
Once in position. • Prevent diathermy exit point burns by ensuring no patient points come into contact with the operating table's metal surface. • Properly pad bony prominences and thin skin areas, such as the neck of the fibula in leg stirrups. • Ensure diathermy pads are properly applied and not impacted by skin preparations. • Provide adequate patient support, especially if the table is likely to shift, tilt, or rotate throughout the procedure (e.g., arm, thoracic, and abdominal supports for lateral positions, shoulder bolsters for head down positions). • When doing procedures that need access to the perineum, ensure sufficient pelvic support while exposing the perineum over the end of the operating table.
• Plan the placement of ancillary equipment. For instance, where will video stacks be located? Is more than one energy source needed, and where will the generators be located? Is there access to mobile imaging equipment or on-table radiography? Position all equipment to offer the surgical team enough access to the patient.
0 Comments
