MISC - Post op care Flashcards by YA Park

How would you examine a post op pt?

Vital signs - ABCD
Fluid balance – including urine output

• Output for any drains
–content and volume
–Can they be removed?

• Examine operative site
– are these findings expected?

• Examine anywhere else of concern – related to operation?

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What drugs do you normally expect to see in a post op pt?

• VTE prophylaxis

• Does patient still need these medications?
–Antibiotics
–Analgesia

• Are other medications needed?
–Analgesia
–Aperients
–Antiemetics
–Regular medications

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How (4) can you treat the inadequate intake of nutrition post op?

multivitamins
High-calorie and protein drinks
Nasogastric feeding
Total Parenteral Nutrition

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How can you examine fluid balance of a patient?

• Urine Output
– measure of tissue perfusion
– maintain UO >30mL/hr or >0.5mL/kg/hr
– beware in CCF and renal impairment

• What fluids are running?
– Replacement vs maintenance fluids (typically 12/24-8/24)

Critical for major abdominal surgery, especially GI
Consider total daily balance – does not count insensible losses

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What other than urine output can you rely on for fluid balance?

– Consider HR, BP, JVP
• Difficult assessments: use daily weight, compare with preoperative weight

• Be wary of frusemide use

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Why should you not give excessive fluids post op day 1?

• Day 1: increased ADH, do not give excessive fluids

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What do you anticipate for fluid balance in post op day 2?

• Day 2: mobilisation often shifts fluid from interstitium back into intravascular space

– Decrease IV fluid rate in anticipation

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Low urine output

signs
Rx

• If anuria, check for blocked IDC
• Assess patient for hypovolaemia
• Ensure patient is not bleeding 
• Give fluid challenge
–500mL to 1L stat crystalloid

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

(4) What are the complications of immobilisation due to pain post op etc?

pneumonia
DVT/PE
atrophy
pressure sores

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How would you adequately give analgesia for post op pt?

WHO analgesia ladder
Patient-Controlled Analgesia
Regional
Spinal
Epidural
Acute Pain Service

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How can you prevent Cx post op in general?

Mobilisation: aim for out of bed and walking by day 2
Chest physiotherapy
VTE prophylaxis: mechanical and chemical
Adequate analgesia
Adequate nutrition and fluids

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

Give DDx for post op fever causes depending on the days post op.

Day 1: usually drug fever
Day 3: lungs (pneumonia)
Day 5+: infection: urinary tract, surgical site; leaks; DVT/PE

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

What should you check in a post op fever pt?

– Symptoms
– Vitals – any tachycardia or hypotension?
– lungs, surgical site, all lines, calves, urine dipstick
– inflammatory markers

•Septic Screen: CXR, MSU, Blood cultures

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How (3) do you do a septic screen?

CXR, MSU, Blood cultures

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How do you treat a wound infection (over closed staples)?

Consider opening suture line over infected area

–Drain underlying abscess
–Swab for MCS
–Heal by secondary intent
–Antibiotics

How well did you know this?

Not at all

Perfectly

How do you treat a superficial wound dehiscence?

Study These Flashcards

May occur if skin poorly apposed
Suture/staples may have cut through
Heal by secondary intention

How do you treat a deep wound dehiscence?

Study These Flashcards

• Burst abdomen

• Due to dehiscence of fascial layer
–Sutures pulled through/slipped knot/poor tension

Excessive haemoserous discharge from suture line or bowel on view
Usually return to theatre – consider tension sutures

What are the risks to poor wound healing?

Study These Flashcards

poor nutrition, obesity, smoking, steroids, DM, uraemia, jaundice, malignancy, tissue ischaemia, infection

50y male 4 days ago had an incisional hernia repair with findings of an obstructed loop of small bowel.
Now vomiting ++
What (5) are possible causes??

Mx?

Study These Flashcards

Causes of vomiting:
• Post operative ileus
• Small bowel obstruction
• Ischaemic or infarcted segment bowel
• Gastric dilatation
• Drugs (narcotics)

Mx:
• Give antiemetic (maxolon, stemetil, ondansetron)
• Place NG tube: free drainage and aspirate
• Give IV fluids- check fluid balance
• Order AXR- S&E

80y woman, 2 days after open cholecystectomy is confused.

* What (5) are possible causes??

Study These Flashcards

Causes of post operative confusion
• Hypoxia: atelectasis, chest infection, over sedation (narcotics), CCF, MI, PE
• Sepsis: chest, urine, wound, intraabdominal (bile leak)
• Medication: opiates, sedatives
• DTs (Delirium tremens; withdrawal from alcohol)
• Metabolic: uraemia, hyponatraemia, hypo or hyperglycaemia

what can be the contributing factors to confusion in a post op elderly pt?

Study These Flashcards

Stroke
Pain
Anaemia
Hypotension
Dementia
Sleep deprivation
Change of environment

How do you manage confusion?

Study These Flashcards

Get history from nursing staff or family
Turn on lights
Check history for pre-op state, alcohol, drugs, diabetes
Check obs
Look at patient. Give Oxygen
Ix: ABG, RBG, U&E, FBE, Blood cultures, MSU, CXR, ECG

78y man returned to the ward after abdomino-perineal resection 6 hours ago.
Lost 2L blood in theatre. Given 1500ml gelofusine and 2 units packed red cells.
BP in recovery 120/70.
Epidural infusion in situ- no pain.
IV running at 100ml/h
BP now 85/50

• What (3) are possible causes??

Study These Flashcards

Hypovolaemia: bowel prep and fasted, long operation, behind in fluid replacement, bleeding, 3rd space loss, sepsis
Epidural causing peripheral vasodilatation
Myocardial infarct or CCF

How do you treat hypotension in a post op pt?

Study These Flashcards

• Decrease rate or stop epidural infusion
• Check FBE, U&E, ECG
• Give more IV fluid +/- blood.
–Start with Nsaline 1L over 30 min then review
–May need gelofusine 500ml stat if does not respond

If Gram –ve sepsis possible give IV antibiotic (3rd gen. cephalosporin or stat gentamicin)

* A 70 year old man had an anterior resection 5 days ago and now has a fever of 38.5C. * What (6) are the possible causes?

* Wound infection * Pelvic abscess * UTI * Pneumonia * DVT/PE * Drip site infection

What could be the cause of fever in first 48 hours of post op when the pt commonly looks well?

–basal atelectasis | –metabolic response to injury

what could be the cause of fever at post op day 5-10?

Abscesses

How do you manage post op fever?

1. Identify site of infection - Obtain pus-swab or aspirate Blood cultures - MSU - FBE - Imaging – CXR, EGG, U/S, Duplex Doppler, CT

How often should you change the IV cannula?

Every 3 days to avoid thrombosis and infection

What is a PICC line? - indications - site of insertion - period of use - risks

* PICC line- placed by radiology under U/S control into basilic vein in upper arm (sterile technique) * Can use for TPN or other infusions * Almost equivalent to CVC * Risk of venous thrombosis of basilic vein * Can be used for weeks

What is a central venous catheter? - indications - site of insertion - period of use - risks

* good for TPN or other infusions * Place into IJV or subclavian vein with tip in SVC (can use femoral V.) * Usually insert in theatre or recovery (clean and ECG monitored) * Can leave in for 5-21 days (antibiotic impregnated) * Risk of pneumothorax, arterial puncture, haematoma (immediate) * Risk of thrombosis, stenosis, sepsis (later)

What is a vascath? - indications - site of insertion - period of use - risks

* temporary catheter used for haemodialysis * Local anaesthetic * Use IJV or femoral vein (NOT subclavian) * Leave in maximum 5 days * Ultrasound control to insert is optimal

What is a permcath? - indications - site of insertion - period of use - risks

* long term catheter for haemodialysis * with dual lumen * general anaesthetic * Place in IJV or EJV * Tunnelled cuffed catheter to prevent infection and displacement * Risk of infection and blockage * Can replace

What is a infusaport/Portocath? - indications - site of insertion - period of use - risks

buried port on chest wall with line into SVC * GA * Used for long term central access for chemotherapy, IV drugs, blood taking * Less risk of infection

What is a Hickman catheter? - indications - risks

single or dual lumen catheter * GA * Tunnelled with cuff to prevent infection * Use for chemotherapy, bone marrow infusion, blood transfusions, long term TPN

MISC - Post op care Flashcards

(35 cards)