Wound Management & Surgical Complications Flashcards

Which type of surgical drain is commonly placed in the bile duct after common bile duct exploration?

Answer: T-tube drain

A T-tube drain is placed in the common bile duct after choledochotomy to maintain patency, allow bile drainage, and permit postoperative cholangiography.

Which patient positioning complication is most associated with the lithotomy position?

Answer: Compartment syndrome of the lower legs

Prolonged lithotomy position with legs elevated in stirrups can cause compartment syndrome in the lower legs due to decreased arterial perfusion and venous pooling.

Which dressing type is appropriate for a heavily exuding wound to prevent maceration of surrounding tissue?

Answer: Alginate dressing

Alginate dressings are highly absorbent calcium-alginate materials derived from seaweed that are ideal for heavily exuding wounds, preventing wound-bed desiccation while absorbing excess fluid.

Which intraoperative complication is signaled by a sudden increase in end-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) and cardiovascular collapse during laparoscopy?

Answer: CO2 gas embolism

CO2 gas embolism occurs when insufflation gas enters an open vessel; it causes rapid cardiovascular collapse and a characteristic rise followed by sudden fall in ETCO2.

An incorrect sponge count at the end of a procedure should prompt the surgical team to:

Answer: Immediately inform the surgeon and perform a thorough wound exploration before closure

An incorrect count is a safety emergency requiring immediate notification of the surgeon and wound exploration before closure to locate the missing item.

Which wound healing phase involves collagen synthesis and fibroblast proliferation beginning approximately 3 days after injury?

Answer: Proliferative (fibroblastic) phase

The proliferative phase (days 3–21) is characterized by fibroblast migration, collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and granulation tissue formation.