educational slide deck: the basics of patient positioning
TRANSCRIPT
Objectives
1. Describe the most commonly used surgical positions.
2. State techniques for preventing injury to surgical patients.
Goals of PositioningProviding adequate exposure
Maintaining patient dignity
Allowing for optimum ventilation
Providing adequate access
Avoiding poor perfusion
Protecting fingers, toes, genitals
Protecting muscles, nerves, bony prominences
Positioning Injuries• Force placed on
underlying tissuePressure
• Folding of underlying tissueShear
• Force of two surfaces rubbing against one another
Friction
Positioning Injuries
Nerves• Stretching or compression• Transient or permanent damage
Most common sites• Brachial plexus• Peroneal• Facial
•Bracheal plexus injury–Armboards extended beyond 90°–Armboards higher or lower than
OR bed–Lateral rotation of patient’s head–Leaning against shoulder or arm–Shoulder braces
Positioning Injuries
•Common peroneal injury–Direct compression–Patients who are thin–Hyperextension of knees–Pressure behind knee–Graduated compression stockings too tight–Foot drop/Lower extremity paresthesia
Positioning Injuries
Positioning Injuries
Pulmonary• Hypoxia• Respiratory compromise• Decreased 02 saturation• Pulmonary edema• Congestion• Atelectasis
Positioning Injuries
Ocular• Corneal abrasion• Central retinal artery occlusion
Risk factors• Prone• Length of procedure• Blood loss
Positioning InjuriesObese or underweight
Poor nutritional status
Advanced age
Preexisting conditions
History of skin breakdown/pressure ulcers
Smoking
Positioning Process
•Collaborative process–Selection of equipment–Preoperative assessment–Positioning–Documentation–Postoperative
evaluation
Selection of Equipment
Inspected and
maintained
Checked prior to
procedure
Competent surgical
personnel
Selection of Equipment
•Pressure relieving surface–Disperses weight–Prevents “bottoming out”–Relieves shear and
friction
Preoperative Assessment• Age/Height/Weight/Body mass index (BMI)• Nutritional status• Blood pressure• Skin integrity• ROM/Physical limitations• Internal/External devices• Preexisting conditions• Medical history• Diagnostic studies• Psychological/Cultural considerations
Obese Patients
Health conditions
• Type II diabetes• Hypertension• Atherosclerosis• Arthritis• Sleep apnea• Alveolar hypoventilation• Urinary stress incontinence• Gastroesophageal reflux
(GERD)
Obese Patients
Respiratory issues
• Airway compromise• Difficult intubation• Aspiration• Hypoxia• Intra-abdominal pressure
Obese Patients
Circulatory issues
• Increased cardiac output• Increased pressure on
pulmonary artery• Risk of inferior vena cava
compression
Obese Patients
Special equipment
• Procedure beds• Extra-wide/long safety
straps• Side attachments/Stirrups• Pressure relieving
surfaces
Documentation• Preoperative assessment• Names/titles participants• Patient position• Upper extremities• Lower extremities• Equipment/Padding• Specific actions• Repositioning• Postoperative assessment
1. Guideline for positioning the patient. In: Guidelines for Perioperative Practice. Denver, CO: AORN; 2015.
References
Thank youSharon A. Van Wicklin, MSN, RN, CNOR, CRNFA(E), CPSN-R, PLNCSenior Perioperative Practice SpecialistAssociation of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN)Denver, CO.
for preparing the content of this educational slide deck.