Key Terms
- ambulatory surgical center (ASC)
- facility designed for outpatient procedures that do not require the patient to be monitored overnight
- anesthesia awareness
- (also: intraoperative awareness) rare but potentially distressing phenomenon where a patient becomes partially or fully aware of their surroundings during surgery despite being under general anesthesia
- anesthesiologist
- highly trained medical professional responsible for administering anesthesia, monitoring the patient’s vital signs, airway, and managing the patient’s pain during surgery
- elective surgery
- non-emergent, planned procedure that is scheduled in advance based on the patient’s preference, surgical procedure, location of procedure, and surgeon’s availability
- emergency surgery
- immediate, unplanned procedure performed to save a patient’s life or prevent severe disability
- epidural anesthesia
- injection of local anesthetic agents into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord, providing a controlled and prolonged analgesic effect
- general anesthesia
- involves a combination of intravenous medications and inhaled anesthetics
- hypothermia
- body temperature below the normal range
- hypoxia
- inadequate oxygen levels in the body’s tissues
- inpatient hospital operating room
- most common surgical setting for patients
- intraoperative phase
- begins when the patient is transferred to the operating room bed and ends when the patient is transferred to the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU)
- moderate sedation
- controlled state of reduced consciousness that allows patients to undergo medical procedures while remaining responsive and able to maintain their own airways; also known as conscious sedation
- monitored anesthesia care (MAC)
- specialized approach to anesthesia that combines elements of local anesthesia and sedation to provide a controlled and comfortable experience for patients undergoing certain procedures
- multimodal anesthesia
- combines various techniques and medications to achieve a balanced and comprehensive analgesic effect
- peripheral nerve block
- specialized form of regional anesthesia that involves the precise injection of local anesthetic agents near specific nerves to block sensation in a targeted region of the body
- regional anesthesia
- blocks sensation to a localized area, allowing patients to undergo various surgical procedures without the need for general anesthesia
- registered nurse first assist (RNFA)
- controls bleeding during surgery, sutures incisions and wounds, and assists in stabilizing patients when necessary
- RN circulator
- responsible for coordinating and managing various aspects of the operating room before, during, and after surgery; also known as a circulating nurse
- scrub nurse
- tasked with maintaining the sterility of the surgical environment
- spinal anesthesia
- well-established and widely utilized form of regional anesthesia, involves the injection of local anesthetic agents (e.g., bupivacaine, lidocaine) into the cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the spinal cord
- sterile technique
- extends to the creation of a sterile field around the surgical site, ensuring that only sterile items come into contact with the patient and the surgical wound
- surgeon
- medical doctor with extensive training in performing surgical procedures
- surgical asepsis
- involves a set of practices designed to maintain a sterile field and prevent the introduction of microorganisms into the surgical environment
- surgical environment
- controlled and sterile setting in which surgical procedures are performed, including the operating room, associated equipment, and related practices and protocols designed to maintain asepsis
- time-out
- critical moment in the perioperative process designed to enhance patient safety and reduce the risk of errors
- urgent surgery
- necessary procedure that must be performed promptly, usually within twenty-four to forty-eight hours