Surgical Care and Electrolyte Imbalance Lecture Notes

Vocabulary practice covering surgical suite preparation, anesthesia types, surgical descriptors, postoperative care priorities, and signs of potassium imbalances.

Preparation of the Surgical Suite

Includes disinfection, gathering appropriate equipment, and the surgical scrub.

General anesthesia

A type of anesthesia where the patient is totally unconscious.

Conscious Sedation

A state where the patient is asleep but not totally unconscious.

Regional Anesthesia

Specific nerves and the region they innervate are blocked from sensory perception via injection of an anesthetic numbing agent such as lidocaine.

Local Anesthetic

A very small area of tissue is blocked from sensory perception by injection of a local anesthetic.

Intraoperative Interventions

Miscellaneous interventions/equipment, positioning the patient, skin preparation, surgical scrub, draping the patient, the surgical procedure, tissue specimens, and final intraoperative interventions.

-ectomy

To remove.

-otomy

To cut or separate.

-ostomy

To create an opening.

Transplant

To uproot and replant.

Ablation

To remove from.

PACU (Post-Anesthesia Care Unit)

The area where admission begins the transition from the OR to postop care, involving close observation and assessment by the RN.

Room Preparation

Obtaining needed supplies and preparing a surgical bed for the patient's return to their room.

Initial postoperative pt assessment (1st Priority)

Complete initial assessment with vital signs to determine baseline.

Initial postoperative pt assessment (2nd Priority)

Assessment of the level of patient responsiveness and their ability to follow instructions.

Postsurgical Complications

Includes fever, atelectasis, pulmonary embolism, nausea and vomiting, urinary retention, and wound infection.

Hyperkalemia

A condition where the $K^+$ level is $5.0$ or more.

Hyperkalemia Heart Signs

Heart is tight and contracted, resulting in hypotension and bradycardia.

Hyperkalemia GI Tract Signs

GI tract is tight and contracted, resulting in diarrhea and hyperactive bowels.

Hyperkalemia Neuromuscular Signs

Characterized as tight and contracted, involving paralysis, DTR, and profound muscle.

Hypokalemia

A condition where the $K^+$ level is less than $3.5$.

Hypokalemia Heart Signs

Heart is low and slow, characterized by palpitations (tachycardia) and arrhythmias.

Hypokalemia Muscular Signs

Muscles are low and slow, characterized by muscle cramping and paralyzed limbs.

Hypokalemia GI Signs

GI motility is low and slow, characterized by hypoactive bowels, constipation, abdominal distension, and paralyzed intestines.