SURGERY + HOSPITAL Flashcards
(127 cards)
PreOp conditions that might make you cancel or defer a scheduled surgery
Focus on CV, Pulmonary, Neuro and CoMorbidities
AGE is itself a big risk
CARDIAC: looking for MI risk, JVD, 3rd or 4th
heart sounds, sufficient ejection fraction
CAROTID BRUITS (new ones) - you should order a doppler. If over 50% occluded no surgery. Pt could stroke on the table. If under 50% advise pt of risks, note it to surgeon but you can go forward.
PNEUMONIA just don’t do surgery until its over
DM - ensure BG is controlled and EKG is clear
HTN - End organ damage is the issue, review
cardiomegaly/ej fraction kidney, retina,
possibly ejection fraction assessment d/t
cardiomegaly
Tests you WILL do if asked to clear your Pt for elective Surgery:
EKG and CXR if over 40
EKG in ALL diabetics d/t silent MI silent d/t nerve damage so they don’t feel it.
CXR on ANY smoker regardless of age
Main causes of Morbidity in Pts undergoing Surgery:
MI + Heart Failure
Stroke (DON’T MISS a Carotid Bruit!!!)
You could use the Goldman, Lee or the American Association of Cardiologists PreOp Risk Assessment - that might be a good place to start
Mneumonic for Hospital Admission Note
Deb’s fav
ABC DAVIDS
A- Admit to (Dr. & Floor)
B- Because… Dx requiring Admission + others
C- Condition (stable, not stable + why not)
D- Diet + DVT prophylaxis orders
A - Allergies (any) + Activity level orders
V- Vitals (how often taken)
I - IV Fluids + Drugs (Medicines are usually IV)
D- Diagnostic Testing
S- Special Nursing Orders
Floors in a Hospital
MED-SURG (is general) SURGERY (OR Suites + pre/post op rooms) OB ICU ER PAC-U/ RECOVERY TELEMETRY ONCOLOGY ORTHO Mother/Baby/Nursery LABOR + DELIVERY
Even OTC Vitamin E can cause problems in a hospitalized patient, what does it do?
Slows Clotting
Nice for avoiding embolus but not so good if you’re having surgery…
How long is Pre-Op blood work good?
10-14 days depending on the doc
Personally, I would repeat the pregnancy test before surgery and the CBC…
How long is a Pre-Op CXR good?
6 Months
Is a pelvic necessary for a Pre-Admission H+P?
A DRE?
Pelvic is optional
DRE + Guiac are not optional. A (+) Guiac is cause to delay a surgery until the cause is found and neutralized.
Maintenance D5W NS for NPO patients
100-150 cc/hr
You might start high for an hour or two then lower it to maintenance if the pt has been N/V/D for more than 1 day to make up the fluid deficit
Specialty Nursing Directives include?
Anything out of the ordinary that you want the nurses to do/arrange:
PT q day Respiratory Therapy orders Restraints Assist to Toilet Bed by window, shades up during day... Notify if daily CBC shows changes to BUN/CR...
OOB means
Out of Bed
If a pt gets admitted from the ER, how long does the hospitalist MD/PA have to get the Admission H+P done + into the notes
24 hrs
but better in the first shift after admission, so the nurses and other providers know what’s going on.
What is the focus of the SURGICAL H+P, done to the extent possible on an 911 admission to surgery ?
Focus on conditions that will impact surgical outcome:
Comorbidities:
Cardiac
Renal
Bleeding Disorders
Pulmonary Disease
-Asthma/COPD/Smoking
CANCER OF ANY KIND - they will look for
mets whereas they wouldn’t if they didn’t
know of a prior/cured cancer
Past Surgeries: No Tonsils, No Appendix..
-Were there complications
- Is there Mesh inside?
- How about metal joints/replacements…
-Any problems with the anesthesia
SOCIAL HX:
-Who can we speak with after the surgery?
-End of life planning/ CPR Intubation
Heroic Measures Refusal
- Will you be able to recover at home
-Supervision
-Stairs
-Toilet on 1st Floor…
ADDICTIONS
ETOH/DRUGS get CIWA protocol
Why does COPD send up red flags for Surgery
They don’t come off vents well, neither do smokers. Some surgeons won’t operate on COPD or even on active Smokers until they’ve quit.
CIWA Protocol?
Frequent Vitals, Neuro Checks and Ativan for Addicts to prevent the DTs
The Four Ps for:
MEDICATION
Pain
Puke
Pus
Prophylaxis
Pain: Oral? Oxycodone/Tramadol/Percocet
IV - usually for break thru or if NPO
Toradol IV/IM is nice but watch the kidney
PCA - your doc will have a protocol
Epidural still in? you can use that
Puke: Don’t rip out those stitches heaving!
Put in an order of Zofran PRN for most
surgical patients. Try 4mg IV, may need
to increase for over 170 lbs
Pus: Avoid Infection!!!
PreOp, IntraOp and PostOp ABX!
Prophylaxis: Think DVT and Atelectasis
Use Heparin for DVT (and get them up and
walking ASAP
Order Spirometry q 4 hrs to prevent lung
collapse
Toradol Protocol
15-30 mg q 6 Hrs
Not more than 120 mg/day
Not more than 5 Days
Daily BUN/CR (daily CBC really)
As Toradol does a number on the kidneys
PCA
Patient Controlled IV Anesthesia
What is the concern with epidurals?
HypOtension
What’s the trouble with surgery pts on beta blockers?
They slow the heart and reduce contractility and that might not be desirable in a surgery patient but you can’t just stop them as you’ll likely get rebound tachycardia
Consider holding them the morning of surgery and then monitoring HR often, hourly and adding them back in if HR climbs out of your target range.
Zofran aka?
Odansetron
4mg IV or IM to start, may need to increase for pts over 175 lbs.
Its a serotonin (5HT3) blocker that works in about 30 minutes (orally) ASAP via IV/IM
Hepatically conjugated then renal cleared. Take care with Liver Dz as it will keep circulating in active form until the diseased liver gets around to deactivating it.
DON’T use with other serotonin blockers like SSRI, SNRI or MAO Inhibitors. May cause Serotonin Syndrome, watch out for:
gitation, ataxia, diaphoresis, diarrhea, hyperreflexia, mental status changes, myoclonus, shivering, tremor, or hyperthermia
Don’t Forget QT prolongation. If you’re giving it to your cardiac pts or someone on erythromycin or Amitriptyline or other QT lengtheners, keep them on an EKG or better yet, don’t give it. A little nausea is better than Torsades.
Serotonin Syndrome
Symptoms coincide temporally with the addition of a serotonergic agent to a patient’s regimen or with an increase in the dose of a previously prescribed serotonergic agent
At least 3 of the following physical findings are present:
agitation, ataxia, diaphoresis, diarrhea, hyperreflexia, mental status changes, myoclonus, shivering, tremor, or hyperthermia
A neuroleptic agent has not been recently added to the patient’s regimen or increased in dose, if previously prescribed
Other etiologies, such as infection, intoxication, metabolic derangements, substance abuse, and withdrawal, have been ruled out
Kefzol (Cephazolin)
1st Gen Cepahlosporin
often used before, during + after surgery
1-2 grams IV q 8 hrs