What is the primary goal of Standard 8: Patient Positioning?
A. To ensure the patient is comfortable during the procedure
B. To collaborate with the surgical team to maintain proper body alignment and protect pressure points
C. To minimize the use of positioning devices
D. To reduce the duration of the surgical procedure
B. To collaborate with the surgical team to maintain proper body alignment and protect pressure points
What is a key consideration when positioning an anesthetized patient?
A. The position should be as rigid as possible
B. Joints should always be aligned unless part of the surgical field
C. Safety belts should be placed as tightly as possible
D. Pressure points do not require padding
B. Joints should always be aligned unless part of the surgical field
Where should safety belts/straps be placed to secure the patient and extremities? Select 2
a) adbominal area
b) chest area
c) thigh/knee area
d) pelvic area
a) adbominal area
d) pelvic area
Why is interval positioning assessment important during surgery?
A. To ensure the patient remains awake
B. To prevent nerve damage and other injuries that can develop quickly
C. To adjust the surgical field for better access
D. To reduce the need for protective padding
B. To prevent nerve damage and other injuries that can develop quickly
What is a critical precaution when using safety belts or straps?
A. Place them over the chest to secure the patient
B. Avoid placing them too tightly to prevent injury
C. Use them only in prone positioning
D. Ensure they are placed directly over pressure points
B. Avoid placing them too tightly to prevent injury
What is the primary cardiac effect of supine positioning during surgery?
A. Decreased venous return (VR) due to gravitational effects
B. Transient increase in venous return (VR), preload, SV, and CO
C. Increased sympathetic nervous system (SNS) outflow to the heart
D. Decreased atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) release
B. Transient increase in venous return (VR), preload, SV, and CO
slide 4
How does supine positioning affect baroreceptor activity in the cardiovascular system?
A. It inhibits baroreceptors in the aorta and carotid sinuses, increasing SNS outflow
B. It activates baroreceptors in the aorta (via vagus nerve) and carotid sinuses (via glossopharyngeal nerve), decreasing SNS outflow
C. It only activates mechanoreceptors in the atria, bypassing baroreceptors
D. It has no effect on baroreceptor activity
B. It activates baroreceptors in the aorta (via vagus nerve) and carotid sinuses (via glossopharyngeal nerve), decreasing SNS outflow
↑BP activates afferent baroreceptors from aorta (via vagus nerve) and carotid sinuses (via glossopharyngeal nerve) and mechanoreceptors from the atria and ventricles, to decrease SNS outflow to muscle and splanchnic vascular beds
slide 4
What role do atrial reflexes play in response to supine positioning during surgery?
A. They increase renin and vasopressin levels to elevate blood pressure
B. They regulate renal sympathetic activity, renin, ANP, and vasopressin levels to maintain homeostasis
C. They directly reduce cardiac output (CO) to prevent hypertension
D. They inhibit atrial mechanoreceptors, reducing preload
B. They regulate renal sympathetic activity, renin, ANP, and vasopressin levels to maintain homeostasis
Why does supine positioning during surgery lead to decreased tidal volume (TV) and functional residual capacity (FRC)?
A. Due to increased diaphragmatic movement and lung expansion
B. Due to cephalad displacement of the diaphragm, compressing the lungs
C. Due to increased intrathoracic pressure from enhanced venous return
D. Due to decreased activity of the respiratory muscles
B. Due to cephalad displacement of the diaphragm, compressing the lungs
What is the recommended arm abduction angle in the supine position?
A. Greater than 90 degrees
B. Less than 90 degrees
C. Exactly 90 degrees
D. Arms should not be abducted
B. Less than 90 degrees
How should the arms be positioned when abducted in the supine position?
A. Palms down to avoid nerve compression
B. Palms up with padded arm boards
C. Pronated with no padding
D. Neutral position without straps
B. Palms up with padded arm boards
slide 6
What is a common complication of the supine position if the arms are abducted greater than 90 degrees?
A. Ulnar nerve injury
B. Sciatic nerve injury
C. Brachial plexus or axillary nerve injury
D. Common peroneal nerve injury
C. Brachial plexus or axillary nerve injury
slide 8
What is a potential consequence of pronating the hand/arm in the supine position?
A. Pressure alopecia
B. Ulnar nerve injury
C. Backache
D. Brachial plexus stretch
B. Ulnar nerve injury
arms should be supine (palms up) to avoid this injury
slide 6
How should patients with kyphosis or scoliosis be managed in the supine position?
A. Avoid padding to maintain spinal alignment
B. Use extra padding or slight flexion at the hip and knee
C. Keep the spine in a rigid position
D. Place the patient in a prone position instead
B. Use extra padding or slight flexion at the hip and knee
slide 9
Which nerve injury has historically been the most common in the supine position under general anesthesia?
A. Ulnar neuropathy
B. Sciatic nerve injury
C. Brachial plexus injury
D. Common peroneal nerve injury
A. Ulnar neuropathy
Ulnar nerve injury if hand/arm is pronated (palm down), slide 8
what is the most common surgical position?
a) Trendelenburg
b) Prone
c) Supine
d) Lithotomy
c) supine
What are transient CV effects of supine positioning? Select 4
a) increased CO
b) increased preload
c) normal/increased SV
d) increased venous return
e) increased PVR
a) increased CO
b) increased preload
c) normal/increased SV
d) increased venous return
“…activated baroreceptors from aorta (via vagus nerve) and carotid sinuses (via glossopharyngeal nerve) and mechanoreceptors from atria/ventricles ultimately returns CV function back to baseline”
slide 4
what regulates renal sympathetic activity, renin, ANP, and vasopressin levels?
a) Kidneys
b) Atria
c) Baroreceptors
d) Brain
b) atria
slide 4
what are pulmonary effects of supine positioning? Select 2
a) increased PVR
b) increased TV
c) decreased TV
d) decreased FRC
e) increased ERV
c) decreased TV
d) decreased FRC
due to cephalad displacement of diaphragm
slide 4
what is the correct positioning of the arm and forearm in arm adduction? Select 2
a) palms down forearm supine
b) palms up forearm supine
c) palms toward the body forearm prone
d) palms toward the body forearm supine
b) palms up forearm supine
d) palms toward the body forearm supine
T/F: patient arm may be tucked in in arm adduction if the surgeon must stand on one side
True
what are complications of supine positioning? select 5
a) backache
b) pressure alopecia
c) brachial plexus injury
d) ulnar nerve injury
e) stretch injury
d) peroneal injury
a) backache
b) pressure alopecia
c) brachial plexus injury
d) ulnar nerve injury
e) stretch injury
ensure arm abduction < 90 degrees, hands supine/palms up, and neck neutral and not hyperextended
historically, what has been the most common nerve injury with supine positioning?
a) peroneal nerve injury
b) cervical nerve injury
c) ulnar nerve injury
d) brachial plexus injury
c) ulnar nerve injury
Ulnar neuropathy has historically been the most common nerve injury
assoc w/GA, although more recent data shows brachial plexus injuries
are the leading injury, slide 9
normal lumbar ____ curvature is often lost due tolaxity in the ____ muscles
normal lumbar lordotic curvature is often lost due tolaxity in the paraspinous muscles