Reviewing The Chart&Abdominal IncisionsWeek 8

REVIEWING THE CHART

Pre-Operative Check ListPurpose:

Correct patient Correct surgeon Correct procedure Correct location

The Pre-Op Check ListProcessPatient Identification

Verbally ID bracelet Reviewed

Nursing history Assessment History and Physical NPO since MD orders Consent Site/Procedure verified Metal pins, plates, joints

The Pre-op Check ListContinuedAllergies

foods, medications, latex, otherPersonal items removed

Lab valuesDiagnostic ImagingElectrodiagnostic Studies

Laboratory ValuesSerum/BloodCBC (complete blood count)Red blood cells (erythrocytes)

RBC levels: male 4.3 - 5.9 female 3.5 - 5 Cells that deliver oxygen throughout the body and make blood look red.

A low RBC can indicate anemia, which can lead to fatigue.

A high RBC may indicate congenital heart disease, dehydration, obstructive lung disease, or bone marrow over-production.

WBC 5,000 - 10,000 White blood cell: One of the cells the body makes to help fight infections. A low WBC is called leukopenia (decrease in the number of these cells can place patients at increased risk for infection) . A high WBC is termed leukocytosis (very common in acutely ill patients.) Although it may be a sign of illness, leukocytosis in-and-of itself is not a disorder, nor is it a disease. .

Hgb (hemoglobin) substance inside red blood cells that binds to oxygen and carries it from the lungs to the tissues. male 13.5 - 18 female 11.5 - 15.5 Hct (hematocrit) measures how much space in the blood is occupied by red blood cells/the percentage of RBCs per volume of whole blood. male 40 - 52% female 35 - 46% Plt(platelets) cells found in the whole blood that are needed to control bleeding/allow blood to clot 130 400

Laboratory Values ContinuedPT (prothrombin time) is a blood test that measures how long it takes blood to clot.

10 15 seconds in a normal adultPTT (partial thromboplastin time) Partial thromboplastin time (PTT) is a clotting deficiency test. It tests Factor III, a component that works with plts & fibrin to create clot. It can help tell if you have bleeding or clotting problems. If the person is taking blood thinners, clotting takes up to two and a half times longer.

60 70 seconds in a normal adult

I hear INR instead.You will also here the term INR. INR =s International Normalized RatioSince PT and INR (PT/INR) evaluate the ability of blood to clot properly, they can be used to assess both bleeding and clotting tendencies. One common use is to monitor the effectiveness of blood thinning drugs such as Warfarin (Coumadin).

INR levelsPatients on anti-coagulant drugs should have an INR of 2.0 to 3.0 for basic blood-thinning needs. For some patients who have a high risk of clot formation, the INR needs to be higher - about 2.5 to 3.5. Range usually is between 0.8 and 1.2. Normal is 1 whereas 3 would mean it takes 3 times as long as normal to clot.

If you hear your patients INR is above this range, your case may be canceled, postponed or cell saver may be called.

If you must do your case and INR is too high..Can give the patient FFP (Fresh Frozen Plasma) aka thawed plasma which is the plasma taken from a unit of whole blood. Plasma transfusion is indicated in patients with documented coagulation factor deficiencies and active bleeding, or who are about to undergo an invasive procedure. Can also give Vitamin K (not potassium) as a reversal agent. Vitamin K is a fat-soluble vitamin. The vitamin K present in plant foods is called phylloquinone; while the form of the vitamin present in animal foods is called menaquinone. Both of these vitamins are absorbed from the diet and converted to an active form called dihydrovitamin K.

Laboratory Values ContinuedBlood Chemistry

K+ 3.5 5.0Potassium to high =s Hyperkalemia which can be fatal because it can cause cardiac arrest or kidney failure.Potassium to low =s you can become weak as cellular processes are impaired, muscles would not move, heart would not beat.The kidney is the main organ that controls the balance of potassium. It removes excess potassium into the urine.

Na+135 145High sodium levels =s Hypernatremia. Symptoms = lethargy, weakness, irritability, and edema. With more severe elevations of the sodium level, seizures and coma may occur.

Low sodium levels =s Hyponatremia ( aka water intoxication) . Symptoms = nausea, vomiting, headache and malaise. As the hyponatremia worsens, confusion, diminished reflexes, convulsions, stupor or coma may occur.

Type & Crossmatch

Type- blood type (A, B, AB, O) and Rh factor (positive or negative) Crossmatch- determines compatibility of donor with recipients blood

Laboratory Values ContinuedUrineUA (urinalysis)

color clarity odor glucose RBC WBC

Diagnostic ImagingX-Rays Identify abnormalities or foreign bodies Find lost needle, sponge, instrument Visualize fluid or air in cavities such as the

plural cavity or peritoneal cavity Assist with broken bone realignment Assist with implantation of prosthetics Identify correct placement of catheters,

drains, or tubes

Diagnostic Imaging ContinuedPortable X-Ray equipment needed in the ORA cassette will be placed under or beside the area to be x-rayedWill be taken to radiology department and read by a doctor of radiology

Diagnostic Imaging ContinuedFluoroscopy portable C-arm X-ray machine with a

monitor screen allows for visualization of areas being

x-rayed by the surgeon as a procedure is being done with the use of a contrast dye Examples: ortho, neuro, vascular

procedures, cholangiograms, and urography

Diagnostic Studies For Vascular and Heart SurgeriesAngiographyStress TestCardiac CatheterizationEchocardiography

Electrodiagnostic StudiesEKG or ECG (electrocardiogram)-monitors and evaluates normal and abnormal heart rhythm as well as how well the heart is functioningEEG (electoencephalogram)-monitors and evaluates brain activity

Abdominal DivisionsAnatomy of the Abdomen

RUQ (right upper quadrant) contents: liver gallbladder duodenum head of pancreas right kidney and adrenal part of ascending and transverse colon

Anatomy of Abdomen ContinuedLUQ (left upper quadrant) contents:

stomach spleen left lobe of liver body of pancreas left kidney and adrenal part of transverse and descending colon

Anatomy of Abdomen ContinuedRLQ (right lower quadrant) contents:

cecum appendix right ovary and fallopian tube right ureter right spermatic cord

Anatomy of Abdomen ContinuedLLQ (left lower quadrant) contents:

part of descending colon sigmoid colon left ovary and fallopian tube left ureter left spermatic cord

Anatomy of Abdomen ContinuedMidline of Abdomen:

Aorta Uterus Bladder

Anatomy of the Abdominal WallSubcuticular (skin)Subcutaneous (fatty/adipose layer)Anterior fascia (thin or thick membrane over the muscle)MusclePosterior fascia (thin or thick membrane under the muscle)Peritoneum (shiny membrane covering the abdominal cavity)Contents of abdominal cavity (organs)

Procedure for Opening Abdominal CavitySkin incisedBlood vessels cauterizedFascia incisedMuscle layers divided or separatedFascia incisedPeritoneum incisedAbdominal cavity contents exposed

Abdominal IncisionsAbdominal tumor

Abdominal Incision Type ConsiderationsSurgeon selects incision that will best expose the structure to be operated onSurgeon selects incision that will create minimal trauma and post-operative painSurgeon selects incision that will allow for wound closure strength as closed by primary wound healing

Abdominal Incision TypesRight Subcostal

gallbladder, biliary system Left Subcostal

spleenMedian Upper Abdominal

stomach, duodenum, pancreasMedian Lower Abdominal

uterus, adnexa (ovaries, fallopian tubes), bladder

Abdominal Incision TypesRight Upper Paramedian

stomach, duodenum, pancreasLeft Lower Paramedian

pelvic structures, colonMcBurney

appendixLeft Oblique Inguinal

hernia repairLower Transverse (Pfannensteil)

uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes

LaparoscopyPort-Sites

Hernia Appendectomy Bowel ResectionEquipment/Room-Set-Up

Anticipating Potential Problems With Abdominal SurgeryAny time you are cutting into the body there is a risk of something being cut that was not meant to be cutDepending on what structure is accidentally cut into, will determine what is needed by the surgical technologistVascular structures will require sutures that are non-absorbable such as silk, prolene or ticron on a taper needleOther structures can often be repaired with chromic, vicryl or dexon on a taper needle

Nursing ProcessSurgery is an on-going process of assessment of needs, plan of action, intervention or implementation of the plan, and evaluation to determine what could be done to better prepare next time

SummaryReviewing the ChartPre-op Check ListHistory and PhysicalLaboratory ValuesDiagnostic Tests

Abdominal IncisionsAnatomy of AbdomenAnatomy of Abdominal WallAbdominal IncisionsLaparoscopyAnticipation of Potential Problems