Perioperative Nursing Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary practice flashcards generated from the Perioperative Nursing lecture notes covering preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care.

Hemoglobin (Hgb) Critical Values

Critical lab values are less than $7\,g/dL$ or greater than $21\,g/dL$ (normal female range: $12\text{--}16\,g/dL$, normal male range: $14\text{--}18\,g/dL$).

Hematocrit (Hct) Critical Values

Critical lab values are less than $21\%$ or greater than $65\%$ (normal female range: $37\text{--}47\%$, normal male range: $42\text{--}52\%$).

Corticosteroids (Dexamethasone) Surgical Interaction

Surgical risk where sudden discontinuation can cause cardiovascular collapse, requiring an IV bolus of corticosteroid immediately before and after surgery.

Diuretics (Hydrochlorothiazide) Surgical Interaction

Surgical risk where electrolyte imbalance during anesthesia may result in excessive respiratory depression.

Phenothiazines (Chlorpromazine hydrochloride) Surgical Interaction

Surgical risk where interaction may increase the hypotensive action of anesthetics.

Tranquilizers (Diazepam) Surgical Interaction

Surgical risk where sudden withdrawal prior to surgery may cause anxiety, tension, and seizures.

Anticoagulants (Warfarin) Surgical Interaction

Surgical risk that increases the risk of bleeding during intraoperative and postoperative periods; must be discontinued prior to elective surgery.

Preoperative Long-Term Opioid Use

Long-term use of opioids for chronic pain ($\ge 6\,\text{months}$) in the preoperative period that may alter the patient's response to analgesic agents.

Serious Reportable Events (Never Events)

Non-reimbursable serious hospital-acquired conditions as defined by CMS and the National Quality Forum (NQF), such as wrong site, wrong patient, or wrong procedure operations.

Trendelenburg Position

A surgical position where the patient is on an inclined operating table with padded shoulder braces in place, requiring care to ensure braces do not press on the brachial plexus.

Lithotomy Position

A surgical position where the patient lies on the operating table with their hips extending over the edge of the table.

Time-Out

A mandatory intraoperative safety pause before skin incision, initiated by a designated team member, where all other activities are suspended to confirm patient identity, procedure, incision site, and consents.

PACU Discharge Criteria

Standard requirements for discharge from the PACU, including being easily arousable with baseline LOC, uncompromised pulmonary function, adequate airway, vital signs/O2 sats stable for at least 30 minutes, and present protective reflexes (gag, swallowing).

Penrose Drain

A gravity surgical drain that allows fluid to drain directly through a tube from the surgical area.

Jackson-Pratt Drain

A closed wound drainage system where fluid collects in a vessel by means of compression and re-expansion.

Dehiscence

A wound healing complication characterized by the separation or splitting open of surgical wound layers.

Evisceration

A surgical wound complication characterized by the protrusion of internal organs through an open wound or incision.

Postoperative Wound Infection Manifestations

A complication appearing 3 to 4 days post-op characterized by redness, edema, increasing pain, increased/purulent foul-smelling drainage, fever, and leukocytosis (increased WBC).