Chapter 50: Perioperative Nursing Care

Question 1

Minor Surgery

Answer 1

-Minimal alteration of the body
-Low risk to life
-Requires little or no respiratory assistance or anesthesia
-Few postoperative complications
-May be discharged the same day (e.g., ambulatory surgery)
-Examples: cataract surgery, breast biopsy, and removal of small skin lesions

Question 2

Elective Surgery

Answer 2

Elective surgery is the least urgent type of surgery. It is performed by patient request and can be scheduled weeks or months in advance because it is neither urgent nor emergent

Question 2

Major Surgery

Answer 2

-Reconstruction or alteration of a body part
-High risk to life
-Requires respiratory assistance or anesthesia
-May be prolonged or result in large amounts of blood loss
-Increased risk for complications
-Usually hospitalized for a minimum of one night for observation
-Examples: cardiac bypass grafting, bowel resection, and mastectomy

Question 3

Urgent Surgery

Answer 3

it is performed within 24 hours of diagnosing the condition that resulted in the need for surgery. The patient’s condition may not be immediately life-threatening; however, serious complications or death could occur from failure to perform urgent surgery

Question 4

Emergency Surgery

Answer 4

performed to preserve the life of a patient, body parts, or body function when a delay in surgery could have detrimental or life-threatening effects on the patient. Morbidity and mortality associated with emergency surgeries are higher than in other types of surgery because of the patient’s underlying condition, the procedures themselves, and emergency medications given during and after surgery

Question 5

ambulatory setting aka

Answer 5

same-day or outpatient surgeries

Question 6

Local anesthesia

Answer 6

administered to a small area of the body on a patient who is awake. This type of anesthesia works well for obtaining a skin or breast biopsy or stitching a deep laceration

Question 7

Regional anesthesia

Answer 7

a type of anesthesia that prevents pain sensation in a specific area of the body through the injection or application of local anesthetics that interrupt the transmission of nerve impulses. Types of regional anesthesia include peripheral nerve block, intravenous regional anesthesia, epidural anesthesia, and spinal anesthesia.

Question 7

Topical anesthesia

Answer 7

a type of local anesthesia that can be used to decrease pain or itching. It can be used to numb the surface of a specific area of the body, such as the mucous membranes, ears, or skin

Question 8

Monitored sedation

Answer 8

is used for minor surgeries or short, simple procedures when a local anesthetic will not suffice, yet general anesthesia is not necessary. Examples include use during a biopsy or colonoscopy.