Wound Closure and Postoperative Management Flashcards
6 cards from real Certified Surgical Technologist practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Wound Closure and Postoperative Management flashcards as text
Which patient position is used in the immediate postoperative period to help prevent aspiration?
Answer: Lateral recovery (recovery) position
The lateral recovery position keeps the airway open and allows secretions or vomit to drain away from the airway, reducing aspiration risk during emergence from anesthesia.
Which combination of vital sign changes is the classic early indicator of postoperative hemorrhage?
Answer: Hypotension and tachycardia
Postoperative hemorrhage causes decreased circulating volume, leading to hypotension and compensatory tachycardia as the body tries to maintain cardiac output.
Which early postoperative complication is most common following general anesthesia?
Answer: Atelectasis (partial lung collapse)
Atelectasis — collapse of alveoli due to shallow breathing, supine positioning, and retained secretions — is the most common early complication after general anesthesia.
Postoperative ileus is best identified by:
Answer: Absence of bowel sounds and failure to pass flatus
Postoperative ileus is a temporary cessation of bowel function characterized by absent bowel sounds, abdominal distension, and inability to pass gas or stool.
When transferring an anesthetized patient from the OR table to the transport stretcher, how many staff members are typically required at minimum?
Answer: At least three to four
A minimum of three to four staff members are needed to safely transfer an anesthetized patient, ensuring the airway, IV lines, and body are all supported simultaneously.
What is the FIRST priority when handing off a patient to the PACU nurse?
Answer: Reporting airway status and current vital signs
Airway patency and hemodynamic stability are the immediate life-safety priorities during PACU handoff — all other information is secondary.