Operating Room Flashcards

Which zone of the operating room suite requires the highest level of air cleanliness and restricted access?

Answer: Restricted zone

The restricted zone includes the operating rooms and requires masks, surgical attire, and the highest level of access control.

A surgeon requests that a bovie electrosurgical unit be used near a patient with a pacemaker. What is the perioperative nurse's priority action?

Answer: Use bipolar electrosurgery instead of monopolar when possible

Bipolar electrosurgery limits current flow to the tissue between the two tips, minimizing electromagnetic interference with the pacemaker.

During a laparoscopic procedure, the patient's end-tidal CO2 suddenly rises to 65 mmHg. What should the perioperative nurse suspect first?

Answer: CO2 gas embolism

A sudden, severe rise in end-tidal CO2 during laparoscopy is a classic sign of CO2 gas embolism.

What is the recommended minimum number of air exchanges per hour in an operating room?

Answer: 15-20

AORN guidelines recommend a minimum of 15 air changes per hour in the OR, with at least 3 of those being fresh outside air.

Which type of anesthesia is most appropriate for a patient undergoing a cesarean section who desires to remain awake?

Answer: Spinal or epidural anesthesia

Spinal or epidural (regional) anesthesia allows the patient to remain conscious and is the standard of care for cesarean sections.

What is the purpose of the 'time-out' procedure performed immediately before a surgical incision?

Answer: To verify patient identity, surgical site, procedure, and consent

The time-out is a final safety check to prevent wrong-site, wrong-patient, and wrong-procedure errors.

A sterile team member contaminates their glove by touching the back table below table level. What is the correct response?

Answer: Re-gown and re-glove using closed gloving technique

Any break in sterility requires re-gowning and re-gloving; closed gloving technique maintains sterility of the new gloves.