Who does the Preop Eval/Assessment/Anesthetic Care plan?
In the ideal world, the provider who will administer the anesthesia!!
In the real world, the patient is often seen ahead of time by a RN or NP or anesthesia provider in a preoperative assessment clinic *Helps to ID patients who may need to cancel or delay surgery so OR runs efficiently*
What does the Preop Eval Involve?
Review of the surgical diagnosis, involved organs/systems, & planned procedure
Besides Medications, Drug allergies, & Cigarettes, alcohol, illicit drugs we ask about previous anesthesia/surgical experiences. Why?
Prior anesthetic experience/family h/o anesthesia problems -No problems -Difficultintubation -Delayed emergence -MH -Prolonged neuromuscular blockade (pseudocholinesterase deficiency) -PONV -Awareness-very rare but ask about past experiences
What does PQRST in the history of present illness mean? (in Health history section of Pre-anesthesia eval)
Pain/Quality/Radiating/Site?Timing
What is important to know about Diagnostic Studies?
Consider them when diagnosis is questionable following H&P
Can help establish severity of diagnoses condition
Can rule out conditions included in the differential
Judicious selection of studies : Sensitivity & specificity Cost-effectiveness, safety, & degree of invasiveness
What Happens after the Anesthetic Plan is Formulated?
INFORMED CONSENT!! Communication of the anesthetic care plans…in terms the patient understands! Discuss all of the following! -Preop med ”going to give you something to relax you” -Preop procedures -Intraop mgt “I’ll be with you, keep you safe and relax, give oxygen” -Postop care in the PACU “ what to expect, we’ll take out the breathing tube, take you to the PACU” -Postop pain mgt “PCA/Epidural”
Explain Informed consent
Discuss alternatives (spinal vs GA) Potential complications Risks versus benefits ANSWER THE PATIENT’S QUESTIONS!! If you are not the person that will be administering the anesthetic, inform the person that he/she will have an opportunity to speak again with their own anesthesia provider
What are some advantages of a well done pre-op eval?
Establishes a trusting provider-patient relationship
TRUE or FALSE. ASA status is Imprecise,True False
TRUE
Name the 5 ASA physical status classifications.
Class 1—Healthy patients, no medical problems
Why is an E sometimes added to the end of an ASA classification?
To denote an emergency surgery
Is there a class 6 ASA?
Organ donor
How important are the ASA classifications?
In addition to faciltiating communication about the patient, it effects reimbursement for anesthesia services
What are the general NPO guidelines?
Adults:
What are the current PEDI fasting guidelines?
Clear liquids up to 2 hours preop in newborns </= 6 months
Solid foods, including milk Up to 4 hours preop in newborns </= 6 months Up to 6 hours in children 6 months to 3 years Up to 8 hours in children > 3 years
Name people at risk for aspiration
GI obstruction (place sump before!!!) GERD Diabetes (gastroparesis) Ate solids recently Abdominal distention Pregnancy Depressed consciousness Recentopioid administration Naso-oropharyngeal bleeding UGI bleed Airway trauma Emergency surgery
How does obesity affect our anesthetic plan?
Diminished ventilation -Mild VQ mismatch - Pickwickian Syndrome (obesity hypoventilation & OSA)…this may be seen w/ PAH w/ or w/out RV failure!
So more rapid apneic desaturation!
Increased intra-abdominal pressure w/ HH & reflux
Higher gastric volume & lower pH
Altered pharmacokinetics
Regional anesthesia more difficult & often unsuccessful
20% of care plans are altered due to conditions identified at preop eval (15% of ASA Class 1 & 2 Patients) what are the common condition that result in changes?
GERD, IDDM, Asthma, & potential difficult airway!
What are the two general reasons for a preoperative consult?
1. More info or expertise needed to establish or quantify a diagnosis that has implications for the anesthetic care plan
Deleterious effects of smoking....(two of them anyway)
CO decreases O2 delivery to tissues
Why is it important to tell your patients to at least quit smoking for a little while before surgery?
Within 12-24 hours: CO & nicotine levels return to normal
Within 2-3 days : bronchotrachealciliary function improves
Within 2 weeks: sputum volume decreases to normal levels
However, no significant decrease in resp morbidity until 6-8 weeks of abstinence
When are PFTs useful?
Useful in patients undergoing lung resection
May be useful in patients undergoing upper abdominal or prolonged or extensive procedures
May predict or monitor patient’s pulmonary response to postop treatment
TRUE or FALSE. History, auscultation, & CXR are usually adequate for a safe anesthetic (rather than getting PFTs)True False
TRUE
Why would you do a Preoperative Cardiac Evaluation in Patients Undergoing Non-Cardiac Surgery
History, physical exam, & EKG help to recognize potentially serious cardiac disorders
Must not only identify the presence of cardiac disease but also its severity, stability, & prior treatment
Cardiac risk involves consideration of functional capacity, age, comorbidities, & invasiveness of surgery.
Obviously we want to know about our patients coagulation status prior to surgery. What kind of questions would you ask?
Always ask about abnormal bleeding or buising!!! Medical problems or meds associated w/ increased bleeding Family history of excessive bleeding Unusual bleeding with prior surgery If affirmative response, ask is there epistaxis, hematuria, or menorrhagia
What is the minimal # platelets to prevent surgical bleeding?
50,000/mm3
What kinds of pre-op questions would we ask a diabetic?
Diabetes for how long? Glycemic control? Evidence of CAD or cardiomyopathy, HTN, autonomic neuropathy, CRI, gastroparesis? Meds, most recent doses, current glucose? Stiff joint syndrome (neck)?
What is the minimum testing for a pre-op diabetic?
Glucose Electrolytes BUN/creatinine UA EKG Optional: ABGs, ketones, osmolarity, Ca2+, PO4-, Mg2+
What are some considerations for the alcoholic patient
Multisystem disease Increased CNS tolerance to volatile & induction agents Perioperative withdrawal/seizures/DTs Paradoxical excitation to sedatives & hypnotics Peripheral neuropathy/regional anesthesia
What are our concerns of the cardio and GI systems of an alcoholic patient?
Cardiovascular: HTN & alcoholic cardiomyopathy
TRUE or FALSE? Chronic abuse of alcohol will increase hepatic metabolic activity w/ increased tolerance to LA, sedatives, analgesics, & NMBsTrue False
TRUE
What are your concerns for the alcoholic patient with IMPAIRED LIVER FUNCTION?
INCREASED drug effect, coagulopathy, esophageal varices
Do alcoholics have metabolic & nutritional abnormalities?
YES. Metabolic & nutritional abnormalities: thiamine deficiency, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, hypocalcemia
Alcoholic pre-op pt, you ask CAGE questions. What are they?
C—Do you occasionally cut down on your alcohol intake?
What are some signs of withdrawal from alcohol?
Signs of early withdrawal: tremor, agitation, confusion, increased HR
How do you treat a patient with ACUTE alcohol injestion?
Alcohol on patient’s breath : check ETOH level - If emergent surgery, treat as ‘full stomach’ - If elective, delay Dehydrated: inhibition of ADH by ETOH - Dehydration + vasodilation from anesthetics = hypotension Hypothermic Decreased MAC since already anesthetized! ETOH synergistic effect w/ cardiorespiratory depressant effects of sedatives & narcotics Differential diagnoses : acute ETOH intoxication, head injury, metabolic derangements
What labs would you get for a patient who is acutely intoxicated?
ETOH level, drug screen (polysubstance abuse), CBC, electrolytes, glucose, LFTs, coagulation profile, EKG, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium
What do we do about the patient with an upper respiratory viral infection???
Effects of URI: - Alters quantity & quality of airway secretions - Increases airway reflexes to mechanical, chemical, or irritant stimulation - Intraop & postop bronchospasm, laryngospasm, & hypoxia - High risk of pulmonary complications at least 2 weeks, & maybe even 6-7 weeks, after URI
What about an URI in pediatrics?
Infants at greater risk than older children Intubation increases risk Theoretically, recommendation is to avoid anesthesia for several weeks after URI Clinically, often impossible since children have 5-8 URIs annually Must distinguish severity & make decision as to proceed or not
Predictors of a difficult airway
Mallampati Classification:tongue thickness Thyromental distance: point from thyroid cartilage to the chin (under 3 fingers) Interincisor distance : difference between teethAtlantooccipital range of motion: motion of head back/forth (Down syndrome or Rheumatoid arthritis) Mandibular mobility
TRUE or FALSE. Interincisor distance is a fairly good predictor of airway but not as good as neck circumference or thyromental distanceTrue False
TRUE
What is the Alantooccipital range of motion?
Ability to touch chin to chest
What does this picture show?
Lifting head up alining the pharyngeal-laryngeal axis and 90 degrees to oral airway
How do you assess for mandibular mobility?
Mandibular protrusion test Upper Lip Bite Test
Explain the different classes of the mandibular protrusion test
Besides the multiple tests we do in the pre-op assessment. What are some other considerations for the airway assessment?
Length of Upper Incisors Shape of Palate Length of neck Girth of neck Obesity
What does LEMON stand for?
L ook at anatomyE xamine airwayM allampatiO bstructionsN eck Mobility
What are some things we monitor for in the OR?
•Electrocardiography •Pulse oximetry •Capnography •Noninvasive blood pressure •Temperature •Neuromuscular function •EEG/BIS •Arterial pressure •Central venous pressure •Pulmonary artery pressure Volume status (fluids, UOP, EBL) •Patient positioning •Surgical field
What is a circle check?
Pt is 1200, going clockwise around you every 5-15minutes to ensure everything is okay/working correctly. (document VS at least every 5min)
Describe Phase 1 of PACU
Monitoring & staffing ratios equivalent to ICU After neuroaxis regional anesthesia (RA)
Describe Phase 2 of PACU
•Transition made from intensive observation to stabilization for care on a surgical ward or at home •May discharge a patient straight from GA to phase 2 if patient exhibits stable hemodynamics & cognitive functioning •Most patients with MAC (monitoring + sedation) or extremity RA
How is the sequence of post-op care determined?
by preexisting disease, surgical procedure, & pharmacological implications of periop anesthetic agents
TRUE or FALSE. A mandatory period of high-intensity care for every postop patient is an obsolete requirementTrue False
TRUE
•On admission to PACU, anesthesia provider gives report to PACU nurse. What do you include?
•Your report guides the intensity & duration of PACU observations •Anesthetic technique •Administered agents •Type & reversal of neuromuscular blockade
The PACU RN performs and initial assessment. What is she looking for?
•Baseline responsiveness •Ventilation •Pain •VS •Regression of motor blockade with regional anesthesia
The Aldrete Score includes what 5 things? (NEED TO KNOW THIS!)
Activity Respiration Circulation Consciousness O2 Saturation
•Poor respiratory effort is a PACU problem that must be resolved. What are the goals?
•Breathing easily, coughing on command, Oxygenation @ preanesthetic level
Hemodynamic instability is a PACU problem that must be resolved, what are the goals?
BP within 20% preanesthetic level, stable HR & rhythm
Attenuated sensorium is a PACU problem that must be resolved, what are the two goals?
Fully awake, MAE voluntarily
Postoperative pain is a PACU problem that must be resolved, what is the goal?
Pain mgt not requiring continuos intervention
What is Residual Neuromuscular Blockade?
•“Floppy” •Poorly coordinated w/ ineffective abdominal & intercostal muscle activity •C/O restricted breathing & suffocating •May be willing to respond to commands •Unable to sustain head lift or hand grasp •Extreme case---upper airway collapse & respiratory obstruction after extubation •Don’t be fooled by TOF 4/4 or spontaneous rhythmic breathing
What are some causes of ventilation problems in the PACU?
•Inadequate reversal of neuromuscular blockade •Narcosis Interference with Gas Exchange: •Residual inhalational anesthesia •Aspiration of gastric contents & reactive airway disease •Bronchial foreign body & pneumothorax •Supraglottic obstruction •Fluid overload
Negative Pressure Edema is a phenomenon unique to the postextubation period. What are the s/s?
•Coarse breath sounds •Pink, frothy sputum •Hypoxia & HTN often precede these physical signs •CXR findings : normal-sized heart, alveolar infiltrates
What causes negative pressure edema in the postextubation period?
•Etiology: vigorous ventilatory effort against a partially closed glottis or small ETT •Common scenario : rapid emergence in patient that was intoxicated @ intubation•Young muscular patients •May occur in any patient that experiences some degree of laryngospasm with extubation •Often occurs following narcosis reversal to achieve conditions for extubation
What is the tx and follow up for negative pressure edema in the post extubation period?
•Treatment: supportive measures, minimal diuresis •Follow-up: extended PACU observation or hospitalization
What are some frequent, treatable causes of post-op HTN and tachycardia?
•Pain, hypothermia with shivering, bladder distention, essential HTN
What are some rare causes of post-op HTN and tachycardia
•Hyperthyroidism, pheochromocytoma, MH
Your post-op patient is HTN and tachycardic, you've ruled out the common treatable causes, what are some other causes?
•Hypoxemia, hypercarbia, fever & its etiologies, anemia, hypoglycemia, tachydysrhythmias, withdrawal, myocardia ischemia, meds, PMH, surgical procedures, intraop events
What are some causes of post-op hypotension?
•Warming patient & controlling pain in PACU reduces sympathetic tone & redistributes blood volume to periphery
How do you treat post-op hypotension?
•Must be treated swiftly & aggressively •Volume expansion!!!! •Then if necessary, vasopressors or inotropes
What does slow to awaken mean?
Failure to progress beyond protective airway reflexes & minimal conscious awareness May be residual drug effects If persists, consider ventilatory, metabolic, & CNS etiologies
What is the common post-op problem?
PONV
