Tech in Surgery Prep / Unit 15 TSC 356 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds
Principles of Positioning
The idea
Surgical positioning gives the surgeon access to the operative site while protecting the patient's body from injury.
In practice
Apply the principles in order. First, positioning is a team effort, planned for the procedure, the patient's anatomy and the patient's conditions. Second, the position must expose the site and allow equipment to be used, while keeping the body aligned. Third, bony prominences are padded and pressure is spread with gel pads and supports. Fourth, nerves are protected from stretching and compression. Fifth, breathing and circulation are not restricted, and the anesthesia provider can reach the airway. Sixth, the position and the padding are checked again during long cases and documented.
Where people slip
An anesthetized patient cannot report pain from a pinched nerve or a pressure point. The team must notice for them, which is why positioning is checked by more than one person.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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