Perioperative Surgical Observation essays

Perioperative Surgical Observation essays Perioperative Surgical Observation: From Operating Room Number Eight to Recovery Number Nine I had waited all semester for this day. I could hardly sleep the night before due to the anticipation. I was to visit Middle Tennessee Medical Center and follow a patient throughout the phases of surgery including preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative. I found each phase to be equally hectic, technical and important for the safety of the patient. The patient that I followed throughout her operative experience was no stranger to surgery. She was a twenty-three-year old woman with a history of three prior surgeries: two cesarean sections, tubal ligation and on this day was scheduled for a laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to cholelithiasis and cholecystitis. The patient had complaints of pain in the epigastric region ranging from crampy to sharp and radiating to the back. Prior to surgery the patient stated she had high hopes that this surgery would cure her pain. When I arrived at 6:35 a.m., the patient was already in the holding area with an intravenous catheter inserted, warming blankets on, identification band in place on her right wrist, and a signed consent in the chart. The nurses in the holding area had already questioned the patient regarding allergies and none were noted. The patient also stated that she had been compliant with the preparation regime of no food or drink after midnight. Upon assessment, I found the patient to have no jewelry, dentures or pacemaker to insure safety during surgery. The intravenous catheter was a 20 gauge located in the left hand and was being infused with lactated ringer ¡Ã‚ ¯s intravenous fluid. Also infusing via piggyback was Ancef 1 gram, a first generation Cephalosporin antiinfective used as a surgical prophylaxis against postoperative infection. In addition to Ancef, the nurse in the holding area gave the patient four other medications including Zantac 50 milligrams (mg) give...